Refrigeration device with a noise sensor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Refrigeration devices emit unpleasant noise during operation due to electrical components like compressors and fans, which existing technologies have not effectively addressed for noise reduction while maintaining efficient operation.

Innovation Solution

A refrigeration device equipped with noise sensors to detect noise intensity and a controller that adjusts the operating power of electrical components within their normal operating range to determine a noise-reduced power setting, ensuring effective noise reduction without compromising operational efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the operating power of electrical components is increased to ensure efficient operation, then productivity and cooling performance are improved, but noise intensity increases and becomes unpleasant

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidnoise intensity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control system dynamically adjusts the operating power parameter of electrical components (compressor, fan) based on detected noise levels. By changing the power parameter within the normal operating range, the system achieves optimal balance between cooling performance and noise reduction, determining a noise-reduced operating power that maintains efficiency while minimizing unpleasant noise

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The noise sensor provides continuous feedback about the noise intensity generated by electrical components. The control system uses this feedback to automatically adjust the operating power, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to actual noise conditions and maintains optimal operation within the normal operating range

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Object-generated harmful factors

If the operating power is reduced to minimize noise intensity, then noise emission is decreased, but cooling efficiency and operational effectiveness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise emissionVSAvoidcooling efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system adjusts the operating power parameter within the normal operating range to find the optimal balance point. By determining a noise-reduced operating power that remains within normal operational parameters, the system maintains adequate cooling efficiency while minimizing noise emission, avoiding excessive power reduction that would compromise cooling performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-generated harmful factors

If the operating power is frequently adjusted to achieve noise reduction, then noise intensity is minimized, but device complexity and control system requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise intensityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system implements a feedback mechanism where the noise sensor continuously monitors noise intensity and automatically adjusts the operating power of electrical components. This closed-loop control minimizes noise while maintaining cooling efficiency, with the controller determining optimal power settings based on real-time noise feedback without requiring complex manual intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

Achieves a permanent and effective reduction in noise intensity while maintaining efficient operation, allowing for continuous low-noise performance over time, even with maximum power usage, by determining and utilizing noise-reduced operating powers within the normal operating range.

Implementation Method 1

a noise sensor (109-1, 109-2) for detecting the intensity of the emitted noise of the electrical component (107-1, 107-2)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic detection: Sound

Data Source

PatentEP3535533B1Refrigeration device with a noise sensor
Publication Date: 2021.06.09 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3535533B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3535533B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3535533B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a refrigeration device (100) comprising an electrical device part (107-1, 107-2) which emits noise during operation, a noise sensor (109-1, 109-2) for detecting an intensity of the emitted noise from the electrical device part (107-1, 107-2), and a controller (111) for operating the electrical device part (107-1, 107-2) in a normal operating power range (131). The controller (111) is designed to change an operating power of the electrical device part (107-1, 107-2) within the normal operating power range (131) and to determine a minimum value of the noise intensity which is detected by the noise sensor (109-1, 109-2) and to determine a noise-reduced operating power (139) in order to operate the electrical device part (107-1, 107-2) at the noise-reduced operating power (139).