Ice Maker Compartment Segmentation for Reduced Compressor Energy Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators face inefficiencies in ice production and energy consumption due to the need for manual ice tray removal, which leads to increased energy use and reduced ice production capacity.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator system with an ice maker that continues to compress refrigerant and supply cool air to an ice making compartment even when the freezing compartment is satisfied, allowing for increased ice production by optimizing the rotation speed of the ejector and controlling the operation of the ice making compartment fan and heater to reduce energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the freezing compartment door is opened to remove the ice tray, then the user can access the ice tray, but the cool air is taken out and the temperature increases, requiring longer compressor operation and wasting energy
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerator is divided into separate freezing compartment and ice making compartment. The ice making compartment can operate independently with its own fan and heater, allowing ice production without requiring access to the main freezing compartment. This segmentation enables the ice tray to remain in place while still being serviced by dedicated ice making components.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice making compartment has its own dedicated fan and heater that automatically service the ice tray without requiring user intervention or door opening. The system self-regulates temperature and ice production, eliminating the need for manual ice tray removal and subsequent door operations that waste cool air.
2Productivity
If the ice making compartment fan operates continuously to supply cool air, then ice production increases, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ice making compartment fan operates periodically rather than continuously. The controller activates the fan during ice making cycles when cool air supply is needed, and deactivates it during ice separation phases when heating occurs. This periodic operation maintains ice production efficiency while significantly reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous fan operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses temperature sensors and controllers to monitor conditions in the ice making compartment and adjust fan operation accordingly. When the temperature reaches optimal levels for ice making, the fan activates; when heating is required for ice separation, the fan deactivates. This feedback-based control optimizes the balance between ice production and energy consumption.
3Ease of operation
If the heater operates to separate ice from the ice tray, then ice separation is achieved, but the temperature of the ice making compartment increases, requiring more cool air supply
Solution Approach 1:
The heater operates periodically in sync with the fan operation. During ice making phases, the heater is deactivated and the fan supplies cool air. During ice separation phases, the heater is activated to melt the ice tray surface and the fan is deactivated to avoid wasting energy cooling the compartment. This periodic coordination minimizes the total energy required for both cooling and heating operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous ice making capability by seamlessly transitioning between cooling and heating phases. The controller ensures that ice making operations continue uninterrupted by coordinating fan and heater operations, so that ice production is maintained while minimizing the energy penalty of temperature fluctuations during separation cycles.
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 ice production capacity while reducing energy consumption by optimizing the use of refrigerant compression, cool air supply, and operational control, leading to improved energy efficiency and faster ice production.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor for compressing a refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
first and second evaporators to which the refrigerant compressed by the compressor is supplied
Implementation Method 3
a heater for selectively supplying heat to the ice tray
Implementation Method 4
an ice making compartment fan to supply the cool air generated from the evaporator to the ice tray
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A refrigerator and a control method of the same are disclosed, wherein the refrigerator comprises an ice tray (100, 110) for receiving water to generate ices (S100); a motor (1504, 1510) capable of being rotated (S226) in a forward or reverse direction; an ejector (1200, 120, 140) including a rotary shaft (122, 124) rotating the ices (S100) made in the ice tray (100, 110) to discharge the ices (S100) from the ice tray (100, 110), rotated (S226) by being axially connected to the motor (1504, 1510), and a protrusion pin (1240, 124) protruded in a radius direction of the rotary shaft (122, 124) to adjoin the ices (S100); a heater (140, 40) for selectively supplying heat to the ice tray (100, 110); a door switching sensor (2600) for sensing a storage compartment (2300, 40, S29, S34) door' opening (606) or closing, the storage compartment (2300, 40, S29, S34) door (32) being provided with the ejector (1200, 120, 140); and a controller (500, 600) for turning the heater (140, 40) on or off in accordance with a rotation position (1, 2, 3, 4) of the ejector (1200, 120, 140).