Preservation container and refrigerator

Abstract

The application relates to a fresh-keeping container and a refrigerator, relates to the fresh-keeping technology field of the refrigerator, and comprises a fresh-keeping chamber; a dehumidification chamber which is communicated with the fresh-keeping chamber and is internally provided with dehumidification materials; a gas monitoring chamber which is communicated with the dehumidification chamber and is internally provided with a gas detection device capable of detecting the concentration of target gas; an oxygen reduction intermediate chamber which is respectively communicated with the gas monitoring chamber and the fresh-keeping chamber and is internally provided with an oxygen removal device; a vacuum pump which is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet, the air inlet is respectively communicated with the gas monitoring chamber and the oxygen reduction intermediate chamber, and the air outlet is respectively communicated with the oxygen reduction intermediate chamber and the fresh-keeping chamber; and a control module which is respectively coupled with the gas detection device and the vacuum pump and is configured to be capable of adjusting the flow of the vacuum pump according to the signal output by the gas detection device. According to the path design that the airflow first passes through the dehumidification chamber and then enters the gas monitoring chamber, the detection device in the gas monitoring chamber is always in a relatively dry environment, and the erosion of high humidity on the detection component is avoided from the source.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of refrigerator preservation technology, and in particular to a preservation container and a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of fruit and vegetable preservation, refrigerators, as commonly used preservation equipment in homes and commercial settings, generally employ a combination of low temperature (approximately 5°C) and high humidity (approximately 90%) to achieve fruit and vegetable storage and preservation. While this preservation method can inhibit the respiratory and metabolic activities of fruits and vegetables to some extent and slow down the rate of quality deterioration, its preservation effect is still significantly insufficient for fruits and vegetables with high respiration rates and sensitivity to mechanical damage, such as spinach, strawberries, and bayberries. It cannot effectively extend the shelf life of these fruits and vegetables and fails to meet users' needs for long-term fresh storage of fruits and vegetables. Subsequent research revealed that further reducing the oxygen concentration in the storage space while maintaining a low-temperature environment can significantly inhibit the metabolic rate of fruits and vegetables, thereby greatly extending their shelf life. Based on this, low-oxygen preservation technology has gradually become a research hotspot in the field of refrigerator preservation. To maintain a low-oxygen environment in the refrigerator storage space, various technical solutions have emerged. One solution involves timed control of oxygen-reducing devices, such as vacuum pumps and oxygen-enriching membranes, to regulate the oxygen concentration in the storage compartment and maintain a low-oxygen state. However, this timed control method relies on a preset time period for oxygen reduction and cannot detect real-time changes in the actual oxygen concentration in the storage compartment. When users frequently open and close the crisper drawer door, allowing outside air to enter, or when changes in the amount of fruits and vegetables in the drawer alter the oxygen consumption rate, the system cannot adjust the operation of the oxygen-reducing device in a timely manner according to the actual situation. This results in low oxygen concentration control accuracy, large fluctuations in oxygen concentration within the storage environment, and ultimately, unstable fruit and vegetable preservation effects, making it difficult to achieve the ideal low-oxygen preservation effect. To address the insufficient accuracy of timed control methods, some technical solutions incorporate oxygen sensors. These sensors monitor the oxygen concentration in the storage room in real time and adjust the oxygen-reducing device based on the detection results, forming a closed-loop control system to improve accuracy. In these solutions, electrochemical sensors are a common choice for oxygen detection due to their relatively low cost and fast response. However, electrochemical sensors have significant performance limitations; their lifespan is short, typically only about two years of stable operation. Refrigerators, as household appliances, are typically designed for a lifespan of over ten years. The short lifespan of electrochemical sensors is ill-suited to the long-term needs of refrigerators, requiring frequent sensor replacements, increasing user costs and impacting ease of use. Furthermore, the interior of the refrigerator's fruit and vegetable crisper drawer is constantly in a high-humidity state to maintain a high-humidity preservation environment. This high-humidity environment accelerates the evaporation rate of the electrolyte inside the electrochemical sensor and also corrodes the electrodes of the electrochemical sensor, causing the sensor's output signal to drift and the detection accuracy to continuously decrease. This further affects the accuracy of the oxygen concentration detection results, making the oxygen reduction control based on the sensor's detection data unreliable. Ultimately, this leads to a significant decrease in the stability of oxygen reduction control, making it impossible to effectively maintain a stable low-oxygen preservation environment and seriously affecting the preservation effect of fruits and vegetables. In summary, existing low-oxygen preservation technologies for refrigerators still have significant technical deficiencies in oxygen concentration control. The core issues are concentrated in the oxygen detection stage, specifically manifested in short sensor lifespan and poor stability. Electrochemical sensors are prone to failure in the high-humidity environment of refrigerator crisper drawers, failing to meet the long-term use requirements of refrigerators (over ten years). Furthermore, the detection accuracy is affected by environmental factors, resulting in insufficient stability of oxygen reduction control and ultimately impacting the low-oxygen preservation effect. Utility Model Content

[0003] This application provides a food preservation container and a refrigerator to solve the problem that the electrochemical sensors used in the food preservation drawers of existing refrigerators are prone to failure in high humidity environments. This not only fails to meet the long-term use requirements of refrigerators for more than ten years, but also reduces the detection accuracy due to environmental influences, resulting in insufficient stability of oxygen reduction control and ultimately affecting the low-oxygen preservation effect.

[0004] In a first aspect, this application provides a food preservation container, which includes: Fresh food compartment; A dehumidification chamber, which is connected to the preservation chamber, is equipped with dehumidification material. A gas monitoring room, which is connected to the dehumidification room, is equipped with a gas detection device, which is configured to detect the concentration of the target gas. The oxygen-reducing chamber is connected to the gas monitoring room and the fresh-keeping room respectively, and an oxygen removal device is installed in the oxygen-reducing chamber; A vacuum pump, having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet branching into two paths connected to the gas monitoring room and the oxygen reduction chamber respectively, and the outlet also branching into two paths connected to the oxygen reduction chamber and the preservation chamber respectively; and A control module is coupled to the gas detection device and the vacuum pump respectively, and is configured to adjust the flow rate of the vacuum pump according to the signal output by the gas detection device.

[0005] In one alternative embodiment, the preservation container further includes a heating device configured to heat the dehumidifying material.

[0006] In one alternative embodiment, the oxygen-reducing room is equipped with an oxygen-enriching membrane.

[0007] In one alternative embodiment, the gas detection device is configured as a gas sensor based on laser absorption spectroscopy technology.

[0008] In an optional embodiment, the gas sensor based on laser absorption spectroscopy technology includes: A tunable laser, the tunable laser being configured to emit laser light at a preset wavelength; A laser resonant cavity having an incident end and an exit end, wherein the incident end of the laser resonant cavity is coupled to the tunable laser; A detector configured to receive laser light output from the emitting end of the laser resonator and convert it into an electrical signal; and A signal processing unit, coupled to the detector, is configured to determine the concentration of the target gas based on the electrical signal.

[0009] In one alternative implementation, the tunable laser is a multi-wavelength laser; and / or, The laser resonant cavity is equipped with a miniature array of mirrors; and / or, The gas sensor based on laser absorption spectroscopy technology also includes a reflector, which is disposed in the optical path between the laser resonant cavity and the detector, and is configured to reflect the laser output from the output end of the laser resonant cavity to the detector.

[0010] In one alternative implementation, the target gas includes one or more of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and ethylene.

[0011] In an optional embodiment, the preservation container further includes: A first housing, the first housing constituting the preservation chamber, the dehumidification chamber, and the oxygen reduction chamber; and The second housing constitutes the gas monitoring chamber and is detachably connected to the first housing.

[0012] In one alternative embodiment, the dehumidifying material includes one or more of silica gel, molecular sieve, calcium oxide, lithium chloride, activated carbon, sodium polyacrylate, and polymer resin gel.

[0013] Secondly, this application provides a refrigerator including the aforementioned preservation container.

[0014] The technical solutions provided in this application have the following advantages compared with the prior art: The preservation container provided in this application embodiment can automatically switch between two working states according to the oxygen concentration: Under normal conditions, the vacuum pump inlet only opens the passage connecting to the gas monitoring chamber and closes the passage connecting to the oxygen reduction chamber, and the outlet only opens the passage connecting to the preservation chamber and closes the passage connecting to the oxygen reduction chamber, maintaining the connection between the preservation chamber, the dehumidification chamber and the gas monitoring chamber, and closing the connection between the gas monitoring chamber and the oxygen reduction chamber. At this time, the vacuum pump continuously draws air from the preservation chamber. The airflow first flows through the dehumidification chamber to remove excess moisture, and then enters the gas monitoring chamber where the gas detection device detects the oxygen concentration in real time. After the detection is completed, the air is sent back to the preservation chamber through the vacuum pump. When the gas detection device detects that the oxygen concentration exceeds the preset threshold, it automatically switches to the working state. The vacuum pump inlet closes the passage connecting to the gas monitoring chamber and opens the passage connecting to the oxygen reduction chamber. The outlet closes the passage connecting to the fresh-keeping chamber and opens the passage connecting to the oxygen reduction chamber, maintaining the connection between the fresh-keeping chamber, dehumidification chamber, gas monitoring chamber, oxygen reduction chamber, and fresh-keeping chamber. The vacuum pump continues to draw air from the fresh-keeping chamber. After the airflow is dehumidified in the dehumidification chamber and the concentration is detected in the gas monitoring chamber, it enters the oxygen reduction chamber where the oxygen removal device removes some of the oxygen. The removed oxygen is directly discharged through the outlet of the vacuum pump, and the remaining gas is returned to the fresh-keeping chamber. This application, through a path design that directs airflow through a dehumidification chamber before entering the gas monitoring chamber, removes excess moisture from the air before oxygen concentration is detected. This ensures that the detection device in the gas monitoring chamber remains in a relatively dry environment, preventing the corrosion of detection components by high humidity from the source. This reduces performance degradation caused by moisture, extends the device's lifespan, eliminates the need for frequent replacements, and avoids moisture interference with detection data, resulting in more stable and accurate oxygen concentration readings. This provides a reliable basis for subsequent control and solves the technical problem of unreliable data caused by harsh detection environments in existing technologies. Attached Figure Description

[0015] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference numerals in the accompanying drawings. These illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are denoted as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings are not to be limited by scale.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a food preservation container provided in this application. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a gas monitoring room provided in this application.

[0019] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 100. Fresh-keeping compartment; 110. First air damper; 200. Dehumidification compartment; 210. Dehumidification material; 220. Second air damper; 300. Gas monitoring compartment; 310. Gas detection device; 311. Tunable laser; 312. Laser resonant cavity; 313. Detector; 320. Third air damper; 400. Oxygen-reducing compartment; 410. Oxygen-reducing device; 411. Oxygen-enriching membrane; 420. First connecting compartment; 430. Second connecting compartment; 431. Fourth air damper; 440. Ventilation grille; 450. Fan; 500. First housing; 510. First box; 520. Second box; 600. Second housing. Detailed Implementation

[0020] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0021] The following disclosure provides numerous different embodiments or examples for implementing various structures of the invention. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. These are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples. Such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed.

[0022] For ease of description, spatial relative terms may be used in the text to describe the relative position or movement of one element or feature relative to another element or feature, as shown in the figure. These relative terms include, for example, "inside," "outside," "middle," "outer," "below," "below," "above," "front," "back," etc. Such spatial relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation, other than those depicted in the figure. For example, if the device in the figure undergoes a positional flip, orientation change, or change of motion, these directional indications will change accordingly. For instance, an element described as "below other elements or features" or "below other elements or features" will subsequently be oriented "above other elements or features" or "above other elements or features." Therefore, the example term "below" can include both upper and lower orientations. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or in other directions), and the spatial relative descriptors used in the text will be interpreted accordingly.

[0023] To address the problem that electrochemical sensors used in refrigerator crisper drawers in existing technologies are prone to failure in high humidity environments, failing to meet the long-term use requirements of refrigerators (over ten years) and exhibiting decreased detection accuracy due to environmental influences, resulting in insufficient stability of oxygen reduction control and ultimately affecting the low-oxygen preservation effect, this application provides a crisper container and refrigerator that removes excess moisture from the air before detecting oxygen concentration, ensuring that the detection device in the gas monitoring room is always in a relatively dry environment, thus avoiding the corrosive effects of high humidity on the detection components from the source.

[0024] Firstly, Figure 1 A food preservation container provided in this application embodiment includes: 100 cubic meters of fresh food storage compartment; The dehumidification chamber 200 is connected to the fresh food storage chamber 100, and the dehumidification chamber 200 is equipped with dehumidifying material 210. A gas monitoring room 300 is connected to a dehumidification room 200. A gas detection device 310 is installed in the gas monitoring room 300. The gas detection device 310 is configured to detect the concentration of the target gas. The oxygen deoxygenation chamber 400 is connected to the gas monitoring chamber 300 and the fresh food storage chamber 100 respectively. The oxygen deoxygenation chamber 400 is equipped with an oxygen removal device. The vacuum pump has an inlet and an outlet. The inlet branches into two paths, connecting to the gas monitoring chamber 300 and the oxygen reduction chamber 400 respectively. The outlet also branches into two paths, connecting to the oxygen reduction chamber 400 and the preservation chamber respectively. The control module is coupled to the gas detection device 310 and the vacuum pump respectively, and is configured to adjust the flow rate of the vacuum pump according to the signal output by the gas detection device 310.

[0025] The target gases here include, but are not limited to, oxygen, such as Figure 1 As shown, a first air damper 110 is provided on the side wall of the fresh-keeping compartment 100, and the first air damper 110 is connected to the dehumidification compartment 200; a second air damper 220 is provided on the side wall of the dehumidification compartment 200, and the second air damper 220 is connected to the gas monitoring compartment 300; a third air damper 320 is provided on the side wall of the gas monitoring compartment 300, and the third air damper 320 is connected to the oxygen reduction compartment 400; a fourth air damper 431 is provided on the side wall of the oxygen reduction compartment 400, and the fourth air damper 431 is connected to the fresh-keeping compartment 100. Through the sequential connection of the first air damper 110, the second air damper 220, and the third air damper 320, the fresh-keeping compartment 100, the dehumidification compartment 200, the gas monitoring compartment 300, the oxygen reduction compartment 400, and the fresh-keeping compartment 100 form an interconnected gas flow path. It should be noted that the first damper 110, the second damper 220, the third damper 320, and the fourth damper 431 are all controllable dampers. Their opening and closing states can be uniformly controlled by the control module, thereby achieving precise control of gas flow between chambers.

[0026] like Figure 1As shown, since the fresh-keeping compartment 100 is used to store fruit, it needs to maintain a low-temperature and high-humidity environment to prevent the fruit from losing water and spoiling. Therefore, the operation of the fresh-keeping container can automatically switch to two working states according to the oxygen concentration: Under normal conditions, the vacuum pump inlet only opens the passage connected to the gas monitoring chamber 300 and closes the passage connected to the oxygen reduction chamber 400, and the outlet only opens the passage connected to the fresh-keeping compartment 100 and closes the passage connected to the oxygen reduction chamber 400. The first damper 110 and the second damper 220 remain open, while the third damper 320 is closed. At this time, the vacuum pump continuously draws air from the fresh-keeping compartment 100. The airflow first flows through the dehumidification chamber 200 to remove excess moisture, and then enters the gas monitoring chamber 300 where the oxygen concentration is detected in real time by the gas detection device 310. After the detection is completed, the air is sent back to the fresh-keeping compartment 100 through the vacuum pump, forming an internal circulation airflow channel of fresh-keeping compartment 100 → dehumidification chamber 200 → gas monitoring chamber 300 → fresh-keeping compartment 100. When the gas detection device 310 detects that the oxygen concentration exceeds the preset threshold, it automatically switches to the working state. The vacuum pump inlet closes the passage connecting to the gas monitoring chamber 300 and opens the passage connecting to the oxygen reduction chamber 400. The outlet closes the passage connecting to the freshness preservation chamber 100 and opens the passage connecting to the oxygen reduction chamber 400. At the same time, the first damper 110, the second damper 220, the third damper 320, and the fourth damper 431 are all opened. The vacuum pump continues to draw air from the freshness preservation chamber 100. After the airflow is dehumidified by the dehumidification chamber 200 and the concentration is detected by the gas monitoring chamber 300, it enters the oxygen reduction chamber 400 where the oxygen removal device removes some of the oxygen. The removed oxygen is directly discharged through the outlet of the vacuum pump. The remaining gas is then returned to the freshness preservation chamber 100, forming a freshness preservation chamber 100 → dehumidification chamber 200 → gas monitoring chamber 300 → oxygen reduction chamber 400 → external oxygen reduction flow channel / freshness preservation chamber 100 oxygen reduction flow channel.

[0027] Firstly, this application, through a path design that allows airflow to pass through a dehumidification chamber 200 before entering the gas monitoring chamber 300, removes excess moisture from the air before detecting oxygen concentration. This ensures that the detection device within the gas monitoring chamber 300 is always in a relatively dry environment, thus avoiding the corrosive effects of high humidity on the detection components from the source. This reduces performance degradation caused by moisture, extends the device's lifespan, and eliminates the need for frequent replacements. Furthermore, it prevents moisture from interfering with the detection data, resulting in more stable and accurate oxygen concentration readings. This provides a reliable basis for subsequent control and solves the technical problem of unreliable data caused by harsh detection environments in existing technologies.

[0028] Secondly, the preservation container of this application can precisely adapt to the high humidity requirements of fruit storage, avoiding water loss and mold problems from the source. Given the need for a high-humidity environment to prevent water loss during fruit storage, in normal circulation mode, the airflow only removes excess moisture through the dehumidification chamber at 200°C, rather than excessively drying the fruit. This stably maintains a suitable high-humidity environment for the fruit, preventing issues such as wrinkled skin, softened flesh, and decreased taste due to moisture loss. Furthermore, by removing condensed moisture, it prevents mold growth in a high-humidity environment. Combined with the synergistic effect of a low-temperature environment, it further slows down the fruit's respiration and metabolism rate, reducing quality deterioration.

[0029] Furthermore, the preservation container of this application can dynamically regulate oxygen concentration, balancing the fruit's respiration intensity and preservation period. Through an automatic switching logic of normal monitoring and oxygen reduction when oxygen levels exceed the standard, the internal circulation only monitors without intervention under normal conditions, ensuring that the oxygen concentration is within the safe basic range required for fruit respiration. When the oxygen concentration exceeds the standard, the system immediately activates the oxygen reduction mode, removing some oxygen through an oxygen removal device and discharging it externally, quickly bringing the concentration back to the optimal storage range. This range can both inhibit the intensity of aerobic respiration in the fruit, slowing down sugar consumption and organic acid decomposition, and prevent anaerobic respiration caused by excessively low oxygen levels, which produces harmful substances and leads to fruit spoilage. This allows different types of fruit to be in a suitable oxygen environment, significantly extending the preservation period.

[0030] In some embodiments, the food preservation container also includes a heating device configured to heat the dehumidifying material 210.

[0031] Specifically, a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor are installed inside the fresh-keeping compartment 100. The temperature sensor, humidity sensor, and heating device are all coupled to the control module. When the humidity sensor detects that the humidity inside the fresh-keeping compartment 100 is lower than the minimum humidity threshold, the control module automatically opens the first damper 110 and closes the second damper 220. At this time, the heating device starts and heats the dehumidifying material 210, causing the moisture previously absorbed by the dehumidifying material 210 to evaporate. The evaporated water vapor is then returned to the fresh-keeping compartment 100 through the opened first damper 110. This not only actively regulates the humidity inside the fresh-keeping compartment 100 but also extends the service life of the dehumidifying material 210.

[0032] By heating the dehumidifying material 210 to evaporate and recirculate the moisture, the humidity can be quickly restored to the appropriate range, preventing fruits from wrinkling, drying out, and losing their taste due to dryness. Compared to relying on external hydration, this method can more accurately maintain stable humidity. Moreover, the moisture comes from the moisture absorbed by the dehumidifying material 210, eliminating the need to introduce external water sources and reducing the risk of contamination.

[0033] In addition, traditional dehumidifying materials 210 need to be replaced after absorbing moisture to saturation. However, this application regenerates the dehumidifying material 210 by heating, that is, the dehumidifying material 210 regains its moisture absorption capacity after the moisture evaporates. There is no need to frequently disassemble and replace the dehumidifying material 210, which reduces the user's maintenance costs and operation troubles, reduces the waste of consumables, and allows the dehumidifying material 210 to be repeatedly recycled, which meets the needs of long-term use of food preservation containers.

[0034] In this embodiment, the heating device can employ heating wires, with multiple heating wires arranged around or close to the periphery of the dehumidifying material 210. This ensures that the heat generated by the heating wires is efficiently applied to the dehumidifying material 210. Encircling the dehumidifying material 210 with heating wires directly transfers heat to its surface and interior, preventing localized underheating or overheating and ensuring uniform heating of the entire material, quickly reaching the temperature required for moisture evaporation. Furthermore, the heating wires are thin and flexible, allowing for adjustments to their arrangement based on the shape of the dehumidifying material 210 and the spatial layout of the dehumidification chamber 200, without occupying excessive space. Additionally, the heating power of the heating wires can be precisely adjusted via a control module, flexibly adjusting the heating intensity according to the actual humidity requirements of the preservation chamber 100, avoiding unnecessary energy waste and reducing overall energy consumption.

[0035] In some embodiments, an oxygen-enriching membrane 411 is provided inside the oxygen-depleting chamber 400.

[0036] Specifically, such as Figure 1 As shown, the oxygen-enriching membrane 411 is laid flat and installed inside the oxygen-reducing chamber 400. A first connecting chamber 420 is located on the side of the main chamber of the oxygen-reducing chamber 400 closest to the gas monitoring chamber 300. The first connecting chamber 420 is connected to a third air damper 320. A ventilation grille 440 is installed on the side opposite to the third air damper 320. Airflow enters the first connecting chamber 420 through the third air damper 320 and then enters the oxygen-reducing chamber 400 through the ventilation grille 440. The ventilation grille 440 can intercept tiny impurities that may be carried in the air, such as food scraps and dust, preventing impurities from adhering to the surface of the oxygen-enriching membrane 411 or clogging the permeation channels of the oxygen-enriching membrane 411. This avoids the oxygen-enriching membrane 411 from reducing its separation efficiency due to contamination and extends its service life. At the same time, by adjusting the mesh density design of the ventilation grille 440, the flow rate of air entering the deoxygenation chamber 400 can be moderately adjusted to avoid the airflow speed being too fast and impacting the oxygen-enriching membrane 411, or too slow and causing a decrease in gas treatment efficiency, thus ensuring that the oxygen-enriching membrane 411 can function in a stable airflow environment.

[0037] More specifically, the oxygen-enriching membrane 411 is installed at a height higher than the opening height of the ventilation grille 440 within the oxygen-reducing chamber 400. This height difference creates a specific gas flow path, meaning that when air enters the oxygen-reducing chamber 400 from the ventilation grille 440, it cannot be directly discharged from other channels. It must flow upwards and pass completely through the oxygen-enriching membrane 411. After being filtered by the oxygen-enriching membrane 411, it can be discharged from the exhaust port of the oxygen-reducing chamber 400 and the vacuum pump outlet, ensuring that 100% of the air entering the oxygen-reducing chamber 400 passes through the oxygen-enriching membrane 411.

[0038] The oxygen-enriching membrane 411 and the ventilation grille 440 are connected by a height difference, forcing air to flow through the membrane. This prevents unfiltered air from being directly discharged, ensuring that every portion of the air entering the deoxygenation chamber 400 fully contacts the membrane, maximizing its separation effect. Furthermore, by adjusting the height of the membrane and grille, no additional airflow guiding structure is needed; the height difference between the membrane and grille is sufficient for directional airflow, reducing the internal structural complexity of the deoxygenation chamber 400 and lowering processing and assembly costs. Because the air must be treated by the membrane, the composition of the gas exiting the deoxygenation chamber 400 can be stably controlled, continuously reducing oxygen concentration and providing a stable low-oxygen environment for the preservation chamber 100, thus ensuring the preservation of fruits and food.

[0039] Furthermore, once the vacuum pump is activated, it rapidly extracts gas from the permeate side of the oxygen-enriched membrane 411, significantly increasing the pressure difference between the feed side and the permeate side of the membrane. Here, the feed side refers to the side of the oxygen-enriched membrane 411 closest to the ventilation grille 440, while the permeate side refers to the other side. This increased pressure difference disrupts the gas balance on both sides of the membrane, allowing air to permeate into it more quickly under pressure. Simultaneously, it accelerates the passage of oxygen molecules through the affinity channels within the membrane, further increasing the migration rate of oxygen from the feed side to the permeate side, shortening the air processing cycle per unit time, and improving the efficiency of low-oxygen gas generation within the deoxygenation chamber 400.

[0040] Furthermore, such as Figure 1As shown, a second connecting chamber 430 is also provided on the side opposite to the first connecting chamber 420 of the main chamber of the oxygen-reducing chamber 400. A ventilation grille 440 is also installed on the side of the second connecting chamber 430 near the oxygen-reducing chamber 400, at the same height as the ventilation grille 440 of the first connecting chamber 420 and positioned opposite to it. A fourth damper 431 is located at the bottom of the second connecting chamber 430, and one of its vacuum outlets is connected to the second connecting chamber, allowing gas to be returned through the fourth damper 431. Simultaneously, fans 450 are installed inside both the first connecting chamber 420 and the second connecting chamber 430. The on / off state of the fans 450, as well as their operating speed, can be precisely controlled by the control module according to actual needs.

[0041] The fans 450 in the first connecting chamber 420 and the second connecting chamber 430 can generate directional airflow driving force, which, together with the guidance of the ventilation grille 440, allows air to pass through the oxygen-enriching membrane 411 quickly and evenly, avoiding airflow dead zones in the deoxygenation chamber 400, significantly increasing the gas processing capacity per unit time, and accelerating the deoxygenation process in the preservation chamber 100. At the same time, the airflow speed can be adjusted by the fans 450 to avoid the problem of airflow speed fluctuating when passing through, ensuring that the air contacts the oxygen-enriching membrane 411 at a stable flow rate. This prevents the surface pressure of the oxygen-enriching membrane 411 from fluctuating due to excessively high flow rate, or the separation efficiency from decreasing due to excessively low flow rate, so that the oxygen-enriching membrane 411 is always in the optimal working state, maintaining a stable low-oxygen gas output.

[0042] In some embodiments, the gas detection device 310 is configured as a gas sensor based on laser absorption spectroscopy technology.

[0043] The principle of gas sensors based on laser absorption spectroscopy is that specific gas molecules selectively absorb laser light of a specific wavelength. By detecting the change in the intensity of the absorbed laser light, the concentration of the target gas can be deduced. Gas sensors based on laser absorption spectroscopy only exhibit a specific absorption response to the target gas molecules, unaffected by water vapor, dust, or other gases in the airflow environment. The concentration detection error is extremely small, accurately capturing subtle changes in oxygen concentration and providing reliable data support for oxygen reduction control. Furthermore, compared to electrochemical sensors, gas sensors based on laser absorption spectroscopy do not rely on chemical reactions. The correlation between the laser signal and gas concentration is direct and real-time, with extremely fast time from gas contact to output of detection results. This allows for rapid response to target gas concentration. Simultaneously, the laser element has a long lifespan and slow performance decay, maintaining stable detection accuracy over a long period and reducing the need for frequent calibration or replacement.

[0044] Especially for complex scenarios with high humidity and mixed gases inside refrigerator food storage containers, and the need for long-term continuous monitoring, gas sensors based on laser absorption spectroscopy technology can work continuously and stably without failing due to environmental factors. They are particularly suitable for fruit preservation scenarios with high requirements for preservation accuracy, ensuring that the preservation environment is always within a controllable range.

[0045] In some embodiments, the gas sensor based on laser absorption spectroscopy technology includes: A tunable laser 311 is configured to emit laser light of a preset wavelength. The laser resonant cavity 312 has an incident end and an exit end, wherein the incident end of the laser resonant cavity 312 is coupled to the tunable laser 311. Detector 313 is configured to receive laser light output from the exit end of laser resonator 312 and convert it into an electrical signal; and The signal processing unit is coupled to the detector 313 and configured to determine the concentration of the target gas based on the electrical signal.

[0046] The tunable laser 311 can output laser light of a specific wavelength based on the molecular energy level characteristics of the target gas. The laser light enters from the incident end of the resonant cavity. After the gas to be detected enters the laser resonant cavity 312, the target gas molecules selectively absorb the laser energy. The degree of absorption is positively correlated with the gas concentration and optical path length; that is, the higher the concentration and the longer the optical path length, the greater the laser energy loss. The remaining laser light after absorption is emitted from the exit end of the laser resonant cavity 312 and received by the detector 313. The detector 313 converts the light intensity signal into an electrical signal; that is, the weaker the light intensity, the smaller the amplitude of the electrical signal. After receiving the electrical signal, the signal processing unit calculates the target gas concentration based on the quantitative relationship between light absorption and concentration, combined with the known optical path length of the laser resonant cavity 312 and the gas absorption coefficient, and finally outputs the result to the control module.

[0047] Specifically, such as Figure 2 As shown, the laser resonant cavity 312 can directly utilize the internal space of the gas monitoring chamber 300; of course, it can also be used as follows: Figure 1The separately configured laser resonator 312 can be simply placed inside the gas monitoring chamber 300; both designs can meet the detection requirements. In this embodiment, the tunable laser is positioned at the center of the bottom of the gas monitoring chamber 300, and the detector 313 is positioned at the center of the top of the gas monitoring chamber 300, with the two facing each other vertically to ensure that the laser can propagate in a straight line between the tunable laser 311 and the detector 313. The laser resonator 312 is positioned between the two. Meanwhile, to avoid interference between the grounding structure of the gas monitoring chamber 300 and the optical path of the tunable laser 311 and the detector 313, the connecting hole between the gas monitoring chamber 300 and the second damper 220 is located on the rear side of the bottom of the gas monitoring chamber 300, and the third damper 320 is located on the front side of the top of the gas monitoring chamber 300. It should be noted that the front and rear positions mentioned here are only based on… Figure 1 The placement angle of the food preservation container shown is defined to clarify the relative positional relationship of each component.

[0048] The tunable laser 311 and detector 313 are arranged vertically opposite each other. Combined with the design of the connecting hole and the third damper 320 avoiding direct overhead and underside of the optical path, this completely prevents the connecting structure from blocking the laser or generating stray light, ensuring that the laser can be stably transmitted from the tunable laser 311 to the detector 313 along a straight line. This design reduces signal interference caused by optical path deviation, making the light intensity signal received by the detector 313 more accurate, and ultimately resulting in a smaller error in the calculated gas concentration. Furthermore, the connecting hole and the third damper 320 are diagonally distributed, allowing the gas to be detected entering the gas monitoring chamber 300 from the second damper 220 to flow along the path from the bottom rear side to the inside of the chamber and then to the top front side. During this process, the gas must completely pass through the laser resonant cavity 312, ensuring full contact with the laser. This path design guarantees the interaction time between the gas and the laser, avoids gas stagnation, and improves real-time monitoring efficiency while rapidly responding to concentration changes. Furthermore, this embodiment directly utilizes the gas monitoring chamber 300 as the laser resonant cavity 312, eliminating the need for an additional independent cavity design for the laser resonant cavity 312. This reduces the number of internal components of the preservation container and lowers the overall assembly complexity and cost.

[0049] In some embodiments, the tunable laser 311 is a multi-wavelength laser; and / or, A miniature array of mirrors is disposed within the laser resonant cavity 312; and / or, The gas sensor based on laser absorption spectroscopy technology also includes a reflector, which is placed in the optical path between the laser resonant cavity 312 and the detector 313, and is configured to reflect the laser output from the output end of the laser resonant cavity 312 to the detector 313.

[0050] Multi-wavelength lasers can further expand the boundaries of gas detection. They can precisely switch between the characteristic absorption wavelengths of various gases related to food preservation. Combined with the laser resonant cavity 312 and the signal processing unit, they can simultaneously monitor the concentrations of multiple gases within the same cavity, eliminating the need for separate sensors for each gas. This significantly simplifies the internal structure of the gas monitoring chamber 300, reduces the space occupied by components, and is particularly suitable for the design requirements of miniaturized food preservation containers. Furthermore, multi-wavelength lasers can dynamically switch detection wavelengths according to the preservation needs of different food types, enabling food preservation containers to adapt to diverse food storage requirements.

[0051] Preferably, a miniature array of reflectors can be arranged inside the laser resonant cavity 312. Multiple miniature reflectors are embedded in the inner wall of the laser resonant cavity 312 according to a specific pattern. Each reflector is fixed at a precise angle, such as 45° or 60°, forming a multi-dimensional network of reflected light paths. When the laser emitted by the tunable laser 311 enters the laser resonant cavity 312, it undergoes multiple reflections, refractions, and deflections within the reflector array. The laser beam is first reflected by the first reflector to another reflector, then reflected a second time before turning to the next reflector, and so on. This causes the originally straight-line propagating laser to form a tortuous light path within the limited cavity space, extending the interaction distance between the laser and the gas, i.e., the optical path length, by several to tens of times. It is important to note that the angles of the reflectors in the array must be precisely calibrated to ensure that the laser beam ultimately converges and exits from the output end of the laser resonant cavity 312, where it is effectively received by the detector 313.

[0052] The miniature mirror array extends the optical path, significantly increasing the interaction time between the laser and the target gas molecules. Even at extremely low gas concentrations, sufficient absorption can accumulate through multiple reflections, making the laser intensity attenuation more noticeable and allowing the detector 313 to detect subtle concentration changes. The miniature mirror array, through the principle of spatial multiplexing, extends the optical path without increasing the volume of the laser resonant cavity 312, perfectly fitting the compact internal structure of a refrigerator. This satisfies miniaturization requirements while ensuring detection accuracy, avoiding the excessive space occupied by an overly large laser resonant cavity 312. Furthermore, the tortuous reflection path allows the laser beam to cover more areas within the laser resonant cavity 312, avoiding the problem of lasers only propagating along the axis and gas in edge regions not fully participating in absorption, as is common in traditional straight optical paths. Thus, even with slightly uneven gas distribution within the laser resonant cavity 312, the laser can still propagate through multiple paths and contact most of the gas, reducing detection errors caused by uneven concentration distribution and resulting in more accurate data.

[0053] Furthermore, a reflector can be placed in the optical path between the laser resonator 312 and the detector 313, configured to reflect the laser output from the laser resonator 312 to the detector 313. The added reflector can be an optical element with high reflectivity, which can create an optical path steering channel between the laser resonator 312 and the detector 313. This reflector can be fixed at a specific position between the laser resonator 312 and the detector 313 according to the internal spatial layout and component location requirements of the gas monitoring room 300, and the setting angle of the reflector needs to be precisely calibrated. When the laser is output from the resonator, it first illuminates the reflecting surface of the reflector, changing its original propagation direction under the action of the reflecting surface, and finally precisely guiding it to the receiving end of the detector 313.

[0054] The reflector can change the direction of the light path, solving the problem of the laser resonant cavity 312 and the detector 313 not being able to be aligned linearly. When the detector 313 cannot be directly installed in front of the resonant cavity's output end due to limited space inside the gas monitoring chamber 300, the reflector can be used to redirect the laser until it is received by the detector 313. This eliminates the need to forcibly adjust the positions of other components to adapt to a linear light path, significantly reducing the space limitations for installing gas sensors based on laser absorption spectroscopy technology in food preservation containers, and is especially suitable for miniaturized, multi-component integrated designs. Furthermore, if multiple detectors 313 need to be added within the same gas monitoring chamber 300, multiple branched light paths can be constructed by increasing the number of reflectors, eliminating the need for an additional tunable laser 311, thus achieving multi-dimensional detection.

[0055] In some embodiments, the target gas includes one or more of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and ethylene.

[0056] Oxygen and carbon dioxide are key gases that affect the storage status of food: food consumes oxygen and releases carbon dioxide when it breathes. Too high an oxygen concentration will accelerate the oxidation and deterioration of food, while too high a carbon dioxide concentration may lead to carbon dioxide poisoning. If fruits and vegetables become soft and rotten or have an off-odor, gas sensors can specifically monitor these two gases and directly obtain the core parameters of the preservation environment, avoiding food spoilage due to uncontrolled concentrations of key gases, and better meeting the actual needs of fruit and vegetable preservation.

[0057] Ethylene is a ripening hormone secreted by fruits and vegetables themselves. Even at extremely low concentrations, it can accelerate the ripening, softening, and even rotting of fruits and vegetables. When the ethylene concentration is detected to exceed a certain threshold, the ventilation frequency of the preservation container can be adjusted to slow down the ripening process of fruits and vegetables and extend the storage period.

[0058] In some embodiments, the food preservation container further includes: The first housing 500 constitutes a preservation chamber 100, a dehumidification chamber 200, and an oxygen reduction chamber 400; and The second housing 600 constitutes the gas monitoring chamber 300, and the second housing 600 is detachably connected to the first housing 500.

[0059] Specifically, such as Figure 1 As shown, the first housing 500 includes a first box 510 and a second box 520, which are adjacent to each other and both have a three-dimensional rectangular structure. The volume of the first box 510 is larger than that of the second box 520. The bottoms of the first box 510 and the second box 520 are on the same horizontal plane, while the height of the second box 520 is lower than that of the first box 510. The second box 520 and the first box 510 share the same sidewall on their adjacent sides, forming an integrated structure. A partition is provided inside the first box 510, located near the top, to vertically divide the internal space of the first box 510 into upper and lower parts. The lower part is a preservation chamber 100, and the upper part is an oxygen-reducing chamber 400. The second box 520 is a dehumidification chamber 200, and a first air vent 110 is located on the sidewall shared by the second box 520 and the first box 510.

[0060] The second housing 600 is a three-dimensional rectangular box. The sum of the height of the second housing 600 and the height of the second box 520 is equal to the height of the first housing 500. That is, after installation, the top of the second housing 600 and the top of the first housing 500 are on the same horizontal plane. The width of the second housing 600 is the same as the width of the second box 520, and during installation, the second housing 600 is positioned on top of the second box 520.

[0061] The first housing 500 integrates three core functional areas—a preservation chamber 100, an oxygen-reducing chamber 400, and a dehumidification chamber 200—within a single structure through a partition and box design, avoiding space waste caused by the dispersion of functional areas. The second housing 600 is vertically connected to the second box 520 and is sized to match, utilizing the unused space above the second box 520 without occupying additional lateral space. This design is particularly suitable for the structural design of miniaturized preservation equipment, making the overall layout more compact and functionally clear. The second housing 600 is detachably connected to the first housing 500. When internal components of the dehumidification chamber 200 need to be replaced, or when the second housing 600 itself malfunctions, the second housing 600 can be directly disassembled for operation without disassembling the entire first housing 500, significantly reducing maintenance time. Furthermore, the second housing 600 can be replaced with different functional units as needed.

[0062] In some embodiments, the dehumidifying material 210 includes one or more of silica gel, molecular sieve, calcium oxide, lithium chloride, activated carbon, sodium polyacrylate, and polymer resin gel.

[0063] For foods requiring storage in low to medium humidity, such as dried goods and grains, silica gel or activated carbon can be used, as both have a slow moisture absorption rate and a strong ability to balance humidity. For foods requiring storage in low humidity, such as meat and seafood, molecular sieves or lithium chloride can be used. Molecular sieves can effectively adsorb water molecules, while lithium chloride can achieve deep dehumidification by chemically binding water, inhibiting bacterial growth and mold. For foods that need to avoid drying damage, such as leafy vegetables and fruits, polymer resin gels or sodium polyacrylate can be used.

[0064] Silica gel and molecular sieves can be regenerated by heating and can be reused 10-20 times without frequent replacement. They are especially suitable for household or small-scale food preservation equipment, reducing the cost of consumables.

[0065] Secondly, this application also provides a refrigerator that includes the aforementioned food preservation container.

[0066] It should be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “described” as used herein may also include the plural forms. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” and “having” are inclusive and therefore indicate the presence of the stated features, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or combinations thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not construed as requiring them to be performed in a particular order described or illustrated unless the order of performance is explicitly indicated. It should also be understood that additional or alternative steps may be used.

[0067] Although terms such as first, second, third, etc., may be used in this document to describe multiple elements, components, regions, layers, and / or segments, these elements, components, regions, layers, and / or segments should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be used only to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or segment from another. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, terms such as "first," "second," and other numerical terms used herein do not imply order or sequence. Therefore, the first element, component, region, layer, or segment discussed below may be referred to as the second element, component, region, layer, or segment without departing from the teachings of the exemplary embodiments.

[0068] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed herein.

Claims

1. A food preservation container, characterized in that, include: Fresh food storage compartment (100); A dehumidification chamber (200) is connected to the preservation chamber (100), and a dehumidification material (210) is provided inside the dehumidification chamber (200). A gas monitoring room (300) is connected to the dehumidification room (200). A gas detection device (310) is installed in the gas monitoring room (300). The gas detection device (310) is configured to detect the concentration of the target gas. An oxygen-reducing chamber (400) is connected to the gas monitoring chamber (300) and the fresh-keeping chamber (100) respectively, and an oxygen removal device is installed in the oxygen-reducing chamber (400). A vacuum pump, which has an air inlet and an air outlet, the air inlet being branched into two paths, which are respectively connected to the gas monitoring chamber (300) and the oxygen reduction chamber (400), and the air outlet is also branched into two paths, which are respectively connected to the oxygen reduction chamber (400) and the freshness preservation chamber; as well as A control module is coupled to the gas detection device (310) and the vacuum pump respectively, and is configured to adjust the flow rate of the vacuum pump according to the signal output by the gas detection device (310).

2. The food preservation container according to claim 1, characterized in that, The preservation container also includes a heating device configured to heat the dehumidifying material (210).

3. The food preservation container according to claim 1, characterized in that, An oxygen-enriching membrane (411) is installed inside the oxygen-reducing chamber (400).

4. The food preservation container according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gas detection device (310) is configured as a gas sensor based on laser absorption spectroscopy technology.

5. The food preservation container according to claim 4, characterized in that, The gas sensor based on laser absorption spectroscopy technology includes: A tunable laser (311) configured to emit laser light at a preset wavelength; A laser resonant cavity (312) has an incident end and an exit end, wherein the incident end of the laser resonant cavity (312) is coupled to the tunable laser (311); Detector (313), the detector (313) being configured to receive laser light output from the emitting end of the laser resonator (312) and convert it into an electrical signal; and A signal processing unit, coupled to the detector (313), is configured to determine the concentration of the target gas based on the electrical signal.

6. The food preservation container according to claim 5, characterized in that, The tunable laser (311) is a multi-wavelength laser; and / or, The laser resonant cavity (312) is equipped with a miniature array of mirrors; and / or, The gas sensor based on laser absorption spectroscopy technology also includes a reflector, which is disposed in the optical path between the laser resonant cavity (312) and the detector (313) and configured to reflect the laser output from the output end of the laser resonant cavity (312) to the detector (313).

7. The food preservation container according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The target gas includes one or more of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and ethylene.

8. The food preservation container according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The preservation container also includes: A first housing (500) constitutes the preservation chamber (100), the dehumidification chamber (200), and the oxygen reduction chamber (400); and The second housing (600) constitutes the gas monitoring chamber (300), and the second housing (600) is detachably connected to the first housing (500).

9. The food preservation container according to claim 1, characterized in that, The dehumidifying material (210) includes one or more of silica gel, molecular sieve, calcium oxide, lithium chloride, activated carbon, sodium polyacrylate, and polymer resin gel.

10. A refrigerator, characterized in that, Includes the food preservation container described in any one of claims 1-9.

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