Reconfigurable Freezer Compartments With Adaptive Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators and freezers lack flexibility in adapting to individual customer requirements for temperature and humidity settings across multiple compartments, as they are limited by fixed compartment configurations and separate temperature control systems.
Innovation Solution
The ability to reposition walls between compartments, allowing them to combine into a larger compartment with adjustable air parameter settings, using sensors and adaptive control systems to regulate temperature and humidity uniformly across the combined space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If compartments are separated with fixed walls and individual temperature control, then each compartment can be independently adjusted to specific temperature setpoints, but the device cannot be adapted to different customer requirements for compartment configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be repositioned between different compartments. This dynamic structure enables the device to adapt to different customer requirements by changing the physical configuration of compartments, while the control system automatically adjusts temperature settings based on the new configuration detected by sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls temperature for individually separated compartments when walls are in position, and automatically switches to controlling merged compartments when walls are repositioned. This multi-functionality allows the same device to serve different storage needs without requiring separate control systems for each configuration.
2Ease of operation
If a wall is repositioned to combine compartments, then a larger common compartment is formed, but the setting means must be changed from compartment-specific control to unified control
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically detects when a partition wall has been repositioned using sensors and autonomously switches from controlling individual compartments to controlling the merged compartment. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual reconfiguration of control settings, making the operation simple for users while managing the complexity internally.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors detect the position of partition walls and provide feedback to the control system. Based on this feedback, the control system automatically adjusts its operation mode - switching between individual compartment control and unified merged compartment control. This feedback mechanism enables automatic adaptation without user intervention.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate refrigerant circuits are assigned to each compartment, then each compartment can be independently controlled, but energy efficiency decreases when compartments are merged
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant circuit configuration is made dynamic, allowing the system to switch between operating modes: when partition walls are in position, separate refrigerant circuits operate independently for each compartment; when walls are repositioned, the system merges the refrigerant circuits to operate as a unified system, improving energy efficiency for the merged configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigerant circuit system is designed to perform multiple functions: it can operate as separate independent circuits when compartments are divided, and as a unified integrated circuit when compartments are merged. This multi-functionality allows the same refrigerant system to optimize performance for both separated and combined compartment configurations.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
AI summary
The freezer has two compartments separated from each other by walls e.g. intermediate walls (10, 14), horizontal intermediate wall (12), vertical partition wall (16). Setting units compartment specifically adjust a parameter e.g. temperature, of air in the compartments. One of the walls is repositioned, so that the larger compartment is developed from the compartments. Setting units are adjusted from compartment specific setting of parameter of the air to setting of parameter of the air in the larger compartment that is obtained by repositioning the walls.