Refrigeration appliance and method for operating such appliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigeration appliances do not effectively remove pesticide residues and microorganisms from food surfaces while maintaining the natural quality, freshness, and nutritional aspects of stored fruits and vegetables, and they fail to control ethylene production to delay ripening effectively.

Innovation Solution

A refrigeration appliance with an ozone generating device integrated into a dedicated compartment for fresh fruits and vegetables, using a specific ozone concentration (0.04-0.12 ppm) and a duty cycle to manage ozone generation, combined with ozone and ethylene sensors to monitor and control ozone and ethylene levels, ensuring microbial reduction, odor removal, and delayed ripening without impacting food quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If ozone concentration is increased to improve microbial reduction and pesticide removal, then food safety is improved, but oxidative deterioration of food quality worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicrobial growth and pesticide residuesVSAvoidfood quality and nutritional content

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The ozone generator operates in periodic cycles rather than continuously, with treatment phases followed by rest periods. This allows ozone to act on microorganisms and pesticides during treatment phases while preventing excessive oxidative damage to food quality during rest phases, resolving the contradiction between pathogen removal and food quality preservation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts ozone concentration parameters based on detected ethylene levels and food storage conditions. By optimizing ozone dosage to specific ranges and adjusting treatment intensity, the system achieves effective microbial and pesticide removal while minimizing oxidative deterioration of vitamins and food quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If ozone is applied continuously to maintain low microbial levels, then food safety is improved, but vitamin C content and nutritional quality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicrobial control effectivenessVSAvoidvitamin C content

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous monitoring of ethylene and ozone levels, ensuring that ozone treatment is consistently applied at optimal levels without interruption. This continuous optimization ensures reliable microbial control while preventing vitamin degradation through real-time parameter adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If ozone generating device is added to remove pesticides and microorganisms, then food safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepesticide residues and microorganismsVSAvoidozone generation and control system

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ozone generating device is designed to perform multiple functions: generating ozone for treatment, monitoring ethylene levels, controlling oxidation processes, and maintaining overall food quality. By integrating these functions into a single system, the patent reduces overall device complexity while achieving comprehensive food safety and quality management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses sensors to automatically detect ethylene and ozone levels, then self-regulates the ozone generator operation without requiring external control. This self-service capability simplifies the control system complexity while maintaining effective pesticide and microbial removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

The solution effectively reduces microbial growth and vitamin C decay, maintaining nutritional quality and prolonging the shelf life of fruits and vegetables by optimizing ozone concentration and duty cycle, while minimizing oxidative processes that cause food deterioration.

Implementation Method 1

the effectiveness of ozone against microorganisms present in food systems depends on several factors including the amount of ozone applied

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

Excess ozone auto decomposes rapidly to produce oxygen and thus leaves no residues in foods from its decomposition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDecomposition: Decomposition (biological)

Implementation Method 3

delay the ripening process by ethylene oxidation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentUS10900703B2Refrigeration appliance and method for operating such appliance

Publication Date: 2021.01.26 WHIRLPOOL CORP

AI summary

A refrigeration appliance comprises a cavity in which an ozone generating device is placed. The ozone generating device is configured to maintain in the cavity a concentration of ozone between 0.04 and 0.12 ppm, more preferably between 0.06 and 0.1 ppm.