Method for controlling refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator control methods result in significant temperature fluctuations in the refrigerating compartment, leading to reduced food freshness and increased power consumption due to the need to constantly turn the compressor on and off.
Innovation Solution
A method that alternately cools the freezing and refrigerating compartments using a compressor, evaporators, and cold air supply devices, with a controller adjusting cooling power and operation time based on the representative temperature of the refrigerating compartment to maintain a stable temperature range, reducing temperature changes and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the compressor is stopped after cooling the freezing compartment, then power consumption is reduced, but the temperature of the refrigerating compartment rises significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic alternating cooling cycles where the compressor periodically switches between cooling the freezing compartment and cooling the refrigerating compartment. This periodic action ensures that both compartments receive cooling attention over time, preventing excessive temperature rise in the refrigerating compartment while allowing the compressor to rest between cycles, thus reducing overall power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary cooling of the refrigerating compartment before stopping the compressor. By ensuring the refrigerating compartment is cooled in advance during the freezing compartment cooling cycle, the system maintains temperature stability without requiring continuous compressor operation, thereby reducing power consumption.
2Temperature
If the compressor is frequently turned on and off to maintain temperature, then temperature control is achieved, but power consumption increases due to startup losses
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor operates continuously without stopping, alternating between cooling the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment. This continuous operation eliminates the harmful startup losses associated with frequent on/off cycling, while still achieving effective temperature control in both compartments through the alternating cooling strategy.
3Temperature
If the compressor runs continuously to maintain refrigerating compartment temperature, then temperature stability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling function is segmented into two separate alternating cycles: one for the freezing compartment and one for the refrigerating compartment. The compressor switches between these two segments, providing cooling to one compartment at a time. This segmentation allows the compressor to run continuously (avoiding startup losses) while still achieving temperature stability in the refrigerating compartment, as it receives periodic cooling attention rather than requiring constant cooling.
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 approach maintains a consistent temperature in the refrigerating compartment, improves food freshness by minimizing temperature fluctuations, and reduces power consumption by optimizing compressor operation.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor that compresses refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
a first evaporator that receives refrigerant from the compressor to generate cold air for cooling a first storage compartment
Implementation Method 3
a first cold air supply device that supplies cold air to the first storage compartment
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator control method of the present embodiment comprises the steps of: operating a compressor by operating a first cooling cycle for cooling a first storage chamber, and operating a first cold air supply means for the first storage chamber; and operating the compressor by switching into a second cooling cycle for cooling a second storage chamber, and operating a second cold air supply means, when a stop condition of the first cooling cycle is satisfied, wherein the cooling capacity of the compressor in the current second cooling cycle is determined on the basis of the representative temperature of the second storage chamber during one operating cycle which includes the previous first cooling cycle and the previous second cooling cycle, and a control unit performs control such that the compressor is operated in the current second cooling cycle with the determined cooling capacity.