Refrigerator and control method therefor

Solution Overview

Problem

Refrigerators struggle to maintain a uniform temperature in storage compartments, leading to reduced food freshness and increased energy consumption due to frequent compressor cycling.

Innovation Solution

A control method that alternates between driving and stopping the compressor and fan in specific steps to manage temperature changes within the storage compartment, optimizing temperature ranges and reducing energy usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the compressor is frequently driven and stopped to cool the storage compartment, then the temperature can be controlled, but energy consumption increases and noise increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage compartment temperature controlVSAvoidcompressor energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control device performs preliminary cooling action by driving the compressor and first fan to cool the second storage compartment before the compressor stops. This preliminary action stores cold air in the compartment, allowing the compressor to remain off longer and reducing frequent cycling, thereby lowering energy consumption and noise while maintaining temperature control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements periodic action by alternating between compressor-driven cooling cycles and compressor-off periods. The control device drives the compressor and fans for predetermined periods, then stops the compressor while maintaining fan operation to circulate the pre-cooled air, creating an efficient periodic cycle that reduces energy consumption compared to continuous compressor operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Temperature

If the compressor is frequently driven and stopped to cool the storage compartment, then the temperature can be controlled, but noise from frequent compressor cycles increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage compartment temperature controlVSAvoidcompressor noise

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control device performs preliminary cooling action by driving the compressor and first fan to cool the second storage compartment before the compressor stops. This preliminary action stores cold air in the compartment, allowing the compressor to remain off longer and reducing frequent cycling, thereby lowering energy consumption and noise while maintaining temperature control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements periodic action by alternating between compressor-driven cooling cycles and compressor-off periods. The control device drives the compressor and fans for predetermined periods, then stops the compressor while maintaining fan operation to circulate the pre-cooled air, creating an efficient periodic cycle that reduces energy consumption compared to continuous compressor operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Use of energy by moving object

If the temperature control range is wide to accommodate compressor cycling, then energy consumption is reduced, but temperature uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompressor energy consumptionVSAvoidtemperature uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The control device performs preliminary cooling action by driving the compressor and first fan to cool the second storage compartment before the compressor stops. This preliminary action stores cold air in the compartment, allowing the compressor to remain off longer and reducing frequent cycling, thereby lowering energy consumption and noise while maintaining temperature control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control device acts as an intermediary by coordinating the operation of multiple fans (first fan and second fan) and the compressor. The second fan is driven to circulate air and distribute the cold air uniformly throughout the storage compartment during compressor-off periods, maintaining temperature uniformity without requiring continuous compressor operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 uniform temperature in the storage compartment, extending food freshness and reducing energy consumption and noise from frequent compressor cycles.

Implementation Method 1

a compressor for changing a gaseous refrigerant of low temperature and low pressure to a gaseous refrigerant of high temperature and high pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

a condenser for changing the gaseous refrigerant of high temperature and high pressure changed by the compressor to a liquid refrigerant of high temperature and high pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 3

an evaporator for absorbing external heat while changing the liquid refrigerant of low temperature and high pressure changed by the condenser to a gaseous refrigerant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 4

maintains the inside of the refrigerator at a frozen/refrigerating state by using a property of absorbing external heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat absorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS11060790B2Refrigerator and control method therefor

Publication Date: 2021.07.13 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A control method for controlling a refrigerator includes a first step for driving a compressor for compressing a refrigerant and a fan for moving air, a second step for driving the compressor and stopping the fan, a third step for stopping the compressor and driving the fan, and a fourth step for stopping the compressor and the fan.