Refrigerator Ice Maker Control for Faster Ejection With Lower Energy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice makers in refrigerators consume excessive energy and inefficiently produce ice, as they require manual ice tray removal and prolonged compressor operation, leading to increased energy consumption and reduced ice production efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a compressor system with two evaporators and a valve to control refrigerant flow, allowing continuous compressor operation and focused cool air supply to the ice making compartment, along with an ejector mechanism that adjusts RPM based on door closure to optimize ice production and energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the compressor operates continuously to supply cool air to the freezing compartment, then the cool air supply is sufficient, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the evaporator into two separate evaporators: a first evaporator for the freezing compartment and a second evaporator for the ice making compartment. This segmentation allows independent control of refrigerant flow to each compartment, enabling the compressor to operate more efficiently by directing refrigerant only where needed, thus reducing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining adequate cool air supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by providing dedicated evaporators and cool air supply paths for each compartment. The ice making compartment receives concentrated cool air through a separate evaporator, ensuring optimal cooling conditions for ice production without requiring the entire freezing compartment to be over-cooled, thereby improving energy efficiency.
2Device complexity
If manual ice tray removal is required, then the ice making structure is simple, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling automatic ice separation through a heater that melts the bond between the ice tray and ice maker body. The system automatically detects when ice is fully formed and activates the heater to facilitate easy ice release, eliminating the need for manual tray removal and improving user convenience without significantly increasing structural complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the freezing compartment door is opened for ice removal, then the ice can be accessed, but the temperature stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ice making function from the main freezing compartment by providing a dedicated ice making compartment with its own evaporator and cool air supply system. This allows ice to be produced and stored separately, enabling users to access ice without opening the main freezing compartment door, thus maintaining temperature stability in the freezing compartment while improving ice accessibility.
4Productivity
If the ejector RPM is increased to reduce ice making time, then the productivity improves, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by enabling variable RPM control of the ejector motor based on operational conditions. The motor can adjust its rotation speed dynamically - operating at higher RPM when door is closed (reducing heat ingress) and lower RPM when door is open - allowing optimization of ice making speed while adapting energy consumption to actual cooling demands and environmental conditions.
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 reduces energy consumption, enhances ice production efficiency, and improves the reliability of ice separation by concentrating cool air supply and optimizing the use of heat, resulting in increased ice output and improved energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a first evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant compressed by the compressor; a second evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant supplied from the compressor
Implementation Method 2
making the ices by reducing a temperature of water to a temperature of a freezing point or less
Implementation Method 3
a heater for selectively supplying heat to the ice tray
Implementation Method 4
a first evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant compressed by the compressor; a second evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant supplied from the compressor
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator and a control method of the same are disclosed, wherein the refrigerator comprises an ice tray for receiving water to generate ices; a motor capable of being rotated in a forward or reverse direction; an ejector including a rotary shaft rotating the ices made in the ice tray to discharge the ices from the ice tray, rotated by being axially connected to the motor, and a protrusion pin protruded in a radius direction of the rotary shaft to adjoin the ices; a heater for selectively supplying heat to the ice tray; a door switching sensor for sensing a storage compartment door's opening or closing, the storage compartment door being provided with the ejector; and a controller for turning the heater on or off in accordance with a rotation position of the ejector.