Refrigerator and method for controlling the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
In refrigerators with independent cooling for refrigerating and freezing compartments, one compartment's cooling can lead to temperature deviations in the other, resulting in inefficient operation and refrigerant distribution, causing one compartment to exceed normal temperature ranges.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator system with a compressor, condenser, and supercooling heat exchanger, where the refrigerant is divided into multiple passages and expansion devices, allowing simultaneous operation of both compartments through a four-way valve, controlling the flow to optimize refrigerant distribution and prevent concentration in either evaporator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If independent cooling is performed in each storage compartment through separate evaporators, then each compartment can be cooled independently, but the cool air is not supplied at a suitable time and place causing lacking of refrigerant and deteriorating operation efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the refrigerant supply system by using a single compressor and condenser that serves both the refrigerating compartment evaporator and the freezing compartment evaporator through a shared refrigerant circulation path, eliminating the need for separate independent cooling systems while maintaining the ability to control each compartment's cooling through valve regulation
2Temperature
If one storage compartment is cooled while the other is not, then the cooled compartment maintains adequate temperature, but the non-cooled compartment increases in temperature and gets out of normal temperature range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of refrigerant flow distribution using expansion valves and flow control mechanisms that can adjust the refrigerant supply to each evaporator in real-time based on the cooling demands of different compartments, allowing the system to switch between single-compartment and dual-compartment cooling modes as needed
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses temperature sensors and control mechanisms that monitor the temperature status of both compartments and provide feedback to the refrigerant flow control valves, enabling automatic adjustment of refrigerant distribution to maintain both compartments within their normal temperature ranges
3Productivity
If refrigerant is divided into multiple passages for simultaneous operation, then both compartments can be cooled simultaneously improving system efficiency, but the device complexity increases with flow adjustment parts and multiple expansion devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the refrigerant circulation system with multi-functional components where the condenser and compressor serve both single-compartment and dual-compartment cooling modes, and the expansion valves can regulate refrigerant flow to different evaporators based on operational requirements, reducing the need for entirely separate systems for each mode
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 solution ensures efficient cooling of both compartments simultaneously, reducing temperature deviations and improving system efficiency by optimizing refrigerant flow and evaporation capacity.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor (110) compressing a refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
a condenser (120) condensing the refrigerant compressed in the compressor
Implementation Method 3
a supercooling heat exchanger (500) disposed at an outlet-side of the condenser to supercool the refrigerant
Implementation Method 4
a plurality of expansion devices (141, 143, 145) respectively disposed in the plurality of refrigerant passages to decompress the refrigerant condensed in the condenser
Implementation Method 5
a plurality of evaporators (150, 160) evaporating the refrigerant decompressed in the plurality of expansion devices
Implementation Method 6
the refrigerant decompressed in the first expansion device and the refrigerant decompressed in the second expansion device are mixed with each other in the evaporator
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a refrigerator (10) and a method for controlling the same. The refrigerator (10) includes a compressor (111, 115) compressing a refrigerant, a condenser (120) condensing the refrigerant compressed in the compressor (111, 115), a refrigerant tube (100) guiding the refrigerant condensed in the condenser (120), a flow adjustment part (130) coupled to the refrigerant tube (100) to divide the refrigerant into a plurality of refrigerant passages (101, 103, 105), a plurality of expansion devices (141, 143, 145) respectivley disposed in the plurality of refrigerant passages (101, 103, 105) to decompress the refrigerant condensed in the condenser (120), a plurality of evaporators (150, 160) evaporating the refrigerant decompressed in the plurality of expansion devices (141, 143, 145), and a supercooling heat exchanger (500) disposed at an outlet-side of the condenser (120) to supercool the refrigerant. The refrigerant supercooled in the supercooling heat exchanger (500) is introduced into the flow adjustment part (130).