Refrigerator and control method thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators consume a significant amount of power due to increased capacity and features, leading to high electric charges and environmental concerns, and existing smart grid technologies may not efficiently manage power usage without compromising user convenience or performance.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with a control device that communicates with a utility company's server to adjust the operation of components like the compressor, valve, and heater, implementing power-saving modes by controlling operation rates, temperatures, and turning off loads during peak consumption times to reduce energy usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the refrigerator controls specific functions to be on or off based on power price, then power consumption is reduced, but the refrigerator may not efficiently perform user-desired functions or performance improvement functions, resulting in lowered performance
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerator dynamically adjusts its operation mode based on real-time power price signals from the utility company. The control device receives power price information and automatically switches between normal operation mode and power-saving mode, allowing the system to adapt its performance characteristics to external economic conditions without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (such as compressor running time, fan speed, defrost timing) based on the received power price signals. During power-saving mode, parameters are adjusted to reduce energy consumption while attempting to maintain acceptable performance levels, directly addressing the contradiction between power usage and performance.
2Ease of operation
If the refrigerator increases capacity and adds various functions to improve user convenience, then user convenience is improved, but power consumption increases significantly, leading to high electric charges
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerator implements periodic defrost cycles and intermittent compressor operation instead of continuous running. The control device schedules these periodic operations based on power price signals, performing maintenance functions like defrosting during low-power-cost periods while maintaining cooling capacity during user-convenient periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operation of multiple functions (cooling, freezing, defrosting, fan operation) based on power price conditions. High-capacity functions are activated or deactivated dynamically, allowing the refrigerator to provide enhanced convenience when needed while reducing power consumption during peak pricing periods.
3Power
If additional power plants are constructed to meet increasing power demand, then power supply capacity is increased, but construction costs, maintenance costs, and environmental problems increase
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerator autonomously manages its own power consumption by receiving power price signals and automatically adjusting its operation. The control device performs self-service load management, deciding when to run compressors, fans, and defrost functions based on economic signals, thereby reducing overall peak demand without requiring additional power plant infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from power price signals to continuously adjust its power consumption pattern. The control device receives real-time or near-real-time pricing information and modifies operational parameters accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that responds to grid conditions and reduces demand during peak periods, thereby reducing the need for additional power generation capacity.
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 effectively disperses power consumption, reduces peak demand, and minimizes user impact by maintaining performance while lowering energy costs and environmental impact through smart grid integration.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator to cool a storage compartment
Implementation Method 2
a heater to remove frost from the evaporator
Data Source
AI summary
A control method of a refrigerator including a compressor to supply refrigerant to an evaporator to cool a storage compartment, a valve to adjust flow of the refrigerant, a fan to blow air heat-exchanged by the evaporator, and a heater to remove frost from the evaporator. The control method includes, upon receiving a power-saving signal, determining whether the received power-saving signal is a first or second power-saving mode signal, upon determining that the power-saving signal is the first power-saving mode signal, performing at least one selected from among resetting of target temperature of the storage compartment, adjustment of an operation rate of the compressor, and adjustment of operation time of the heater to execute a first power-saving mode, and, upon determining that the power-saving signal is the second power-saving mode signal, controlling the compressor, the fan, and the heater to be off to execute a second power-saving mode.