Dual-Compressor Refrigerator Control for Noise and Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators with a single compressor and condenser struggle to simultaneously maintain the distinct target temperatures of freezing and refrigerating compartments, leading to insufficient cooling capacity and increased noise and vibration when both compartments are cooled simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring multiple compressors and cooling units, with a controller that delays driving one cooling unit if another is already operational, and reduces driving rates when both are active, to optimize temperature control and minimize simultaneous compressor operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single compressor and condenser are used to cool both freezing and refrigerating compartments, then device complexity is reduced, but cooling capacity becomes insufficient and the ability to simultaneously maintain distinct target temperatures deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single compressor system into multiple independent compressors (first compressor for freezing compartment, second compressor for refrigerating compartment). Each compressor independently serves its designated compartment, eliminating the capacity conflicts and temperature control issues of the single compressor system while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular architecture.
2Reliability
If multiple compressors are used to provide sufficient cooling capacity for both compartments, then cooling capacity is improved, but noise and vibration increase when both compressors operate simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The controller implements periodic alternation between the first and second compressors based on temperature conditions. When both compartments require cooling, the system alternates compressor operation in periodic cycles rather than running both simultaneously, thereby maintaining sufficient cooling capacity while reducing noise and vibration levels at any given moment.
3Manufacturing precision
If both cooling units are driven simultaneously to maintain target temperatures of both compartments, then temperature control precision is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller dynamically adjusts compressor operation based on real-time temperature conditions of both compartments. Rather than running both compressors at fixed high capacity, the system dynamically switches between compressors and adjusts their operation intensity to match actual cooling demands, thereby maintaining temperature control precision while optimizing power consumption.
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 approach enhances cooling efficiency, reduces noise and vibration, and minimizes power consumption by optimizing the operation of multiple compressors, allowing for effective temperature management in both compartments.
Implementation Method 1
The refrigerator supplies air, cooled by an evaporator provided for each storage compartment, into each storage compartment based on a target temperature of the storage compartment
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a plurality of storage compartments, a plurality of cooling units to cool the plurality of storage compartments, a temperature sensing unit to sense temperatures of the plurality of storage compartments, a drive unit to drive the plurality of cooling units, and a controller to control the drive unit to drive the cooling unit that satisfies a predetermined driving condition. If at least one cooling unit among the plurality of cooling units is being driven, the controller delays driving the other cooling unit even if the other cooling unit satisfies the driving condition. The refrigerator minimizes simultaneous driving a plurality of compressors, which may prevent generation of noise and vibration, as well as excessive power consumption, due to driving the plurality of compressors.