Refrigerator Ice Maker Water Flow Control Under Low Pressure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice making devices in refrigerators face challenges in accurately controlling the amount of water supplied, leading to issues such as non-spherical ice formation or ice tray breakage due to insufficient or excessive water, especially under varying water pressures.
Innovation Solution
A method that utilizes a flow sensor to detect water supply flow by pulse value, determines if the detected pulse value has reached a target within a preset time, and adjusts the water supply by calculating additional water needed to reach the target, using a linear function formula to calculate flow rates and set new target pulse values, ensuring accurate water supply even in low water-pressure states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a flow sensor is used to control water supply in low water-pressure areas, then water supply automation is improved, but water supply accuracy deteriorates due to excessive water supply
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the actual water supply amount through the flow sensor and compares it with the target value, then adjusts the water supply accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism corrects the excessive water supply issue by reducing flow when the actual amount exceeds the target, thereby maintaining measurement precision while preserving automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the water supply parameter (flow rate or supply time) based on detected conditions. When excessive water supply is detected, the system changes the supply parameter to reduce the flow rate or shorten the supply duration, thereby achieving accurate water supply control while maintaining automated operation.
2Ease of operation
If water supply time is preset in the controller, then control simplicity is improved, but water supply accuracy deteriorates due to pressure variations
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the flow sensor to monitor actual water supply and compare it with the target value. This allows the simple preset time control to be augmented with automatic corrections, maintaining ease of operation while improving water supply accuracy by compensating for pressure variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow sensor acts as an intermediary between the simple time-based controller and the actual water supply. It provides real-time information about water supply status, enabling the controller to adjust the supply process automatically without requiring complex user input, thus maintaining simplicity while achieving accuracy.
3Device complexity
If the impeller of the flow sensor does not operate due to low water pressure, then device simplicity is maintained, but water supply accuracy deteriorates due to excessive water passing around the impeller
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the flow sensor to detect when water supply exceeds the target amount. Even when the impeller doesn't operate properly due to low pressure, the feedback mechanism identifies the discrepancy between target and actual supply, allowing the controller to correct the excessive water supply and maintain accuracy without adding device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces reliance on the mechanical impeller operation with an alternative measurement or detection method. When the impeller fails to operate due to low pressure, the system uses other means (such as timing, pressure sensing, or alternative flow detection) to monitor water supply and ensure accuracy, thereby maintaining device simplicity while overcoming the mechanical limitation.
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 method ensures accurate water supply to ice making devices, preventing ice tray breakage and ensuring spherical ice formation by adjusting water supply based on detected pulse values and pressure conditions, thereby maintaining consistent ice quality.
Implementation Method 1
a flow sensor configured to detect water supply flow to the ice making device by using a pulse value according to rotation of an impeller
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method for controlling a refrigerator includes starting water supply to an ice making device (100) in a refrigerator (S12). The ice making device (100) includes a flow sensor configured to detect water supply flow to the ice making device (100) by using a pulse value according to rotation of an impeller. The method also includes operating the flow sensor to detect a pulse value, determining whether the pulse value has reached a target pulse value within a preset time (T) (S15), and, based on a determination that the detected pulse value has not reached the target pulse value within the preset time (T), determining that water supply to the ice making device (100) is in a low water-pressure state and performing a water supply control process according to the low water-pressure state.