Refrigerator and control method thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current refrigerators fail to maintain a constant temperature in compartments, leading to significant temperature fluctuations that affect the quality of stored food, as the refrigerating and freezing compartments cannot achieve the necessary precision.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with a constant temperature compartment equipped with temperature sensors and a controller that regulates a cooling unit based on compartment and tray temperatures, ensuring precise temperature control through intermittent cooling and adjusting starting and stopping points according to load conditions and tray positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a cooling unit is used to cool the constant temperature compartment, then the compartment can be cooled, but the temperature fluctuates significantly affecting food quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs temperature sensors to continuously monitor both the compartment temperature and tray temperature, feeding this information back to the control module. The control module adjusts the cooling unit's operation based on this feedback, comparing the actual temperatures with preset values and modifying cooling intensity accordingly to maintain temperature stability and prevent excessive fluctuations that would affect food quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic temperature control by adjusting the cooling unit's operation in real-time based on changing conditions. The control module modifies cooling intensity according to the current temperature readings from sensors, the type of food being stored, and the tray's thermal characteristics, transitioning from static to dynamic control to maintain optimal temperature stability.
2Reliability
If the cooling unit operates continuously to maintain constant temperature, then temperature stability improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic cooling action where the cooling unit operates intermittently rather than continuously. The control module determines optimal cooling periods based on temperature sensor feedback, food type, and tray temperature, activating the cooling unit only when necessary to maintain temperature stability, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while preserving temperature control reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the cooling unit dynamically based on real-time temperature conditions. The control module adjusts cooling intensity and duration by modifying operational parameters such as compressor speed, fan rotation, or cooling cycle duration, optimizing the balance between temperature stability and energy consumption through parameter adaptation rather than fixed continuous operation.
3Device complexity
If temperature sensors monitor only the compartment temperature, then the control system is simple, but the temperature control precision is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the temperature monitoring function by deploying multiple temperature sensors at different locations - one in the compartment and another on the tray itself. This segmentation allows independent monitoring of compartment temperature and tray temperature, enabling more precise control by considering the thermal state of both the storage space and the food container separately, thereby improving overall temperature control precision without excessive complexity increase.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution maintains a stable temperature in the constant temperature compartment, reducing fluctuations and ensuring the quality of stored food by considering both compartment and tray temperatures, thus providing uniform cooling.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling unit for cooling the constant temperature compartment
Implementation Method 2
the cold source is configured as an evaporator of a refrigerant refrigeration cycle unit
Implementation Method 3
the cold source is configured as an evaporator of a refrigerant refrigeration cycle unit, or a cold end of a semiconductor refrigeration unit
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a refrigerator and a control method thereof; the refrigerator includes: a constant temperature compartment, a cooling unit for cooling the constant temperature compartment, at least one tray located in the constant temperature compartment, a compartment temperature sensor for detecting a temperature in the constant temperature compartment, a tray temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the tray, and a controller, and the cooling unit, the compartment temperature sensor and the tray temperature sensor are all communicatively connected with the controller.