Refrigerator Damper Control for Multi-Chamber Temperature Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerator control methods fail to prevent excessive temperature increases in storage chambers that do not receive cold air, especially when multiple chambers are alternately cooled, leading to temperature fluctuations and potential overcooling or excessive heating.
Innovation Solution
A control method that utilizes multiple evaporators and fans to alternately or simultaneously cool high-temperature and low-temperature chambers, with adjustable dampers to manage cold-air passage openings based on temperature sensors and set references, ensuring balanced temperature maintenance across chambers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If multiple storage chambers are alternately cooled using a single evaporator, then energy consumption is reduced, but temperature stability deteriorates causing excessive temperature increases in chambers not receiving cold air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single evaporator system into multiple independent cooling zones by adding separate evaporators for different storage chambers. This segmentation allows each chamber to be cooled independently, preventing temperature instability while maintaining energy efficiency through selective operation of individual evaporators based on chamber-specific temperature needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts the operation of multiple evaporators and dampers based on real-time temperature feedback from each storage chamber. This dynamic control enables the system to switch between single-evaporator mode (for energy saving) and multi-evaporator mode (for temperature stability), resolving the contradiction between energy consumption and temperature stability.
2Productivity
If cold air is concentratedly supplied to one storage chamber, then cooling efficiency is improved, but temperature uniformity across chambers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality control by providing dedicated evaporators and dampers for each storage chamber, allowing customized cooling strategies for different chamber types (e.g., refrigerating vs. freezing compartments). This enables high cooling efficiency for priority chambers while maintaining temperature uniformity across all chambers through independent local adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature sensors in each storage chamber provide real-time feedback to the control system, which adjusts damper positions and evaporator operation accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that when one chamber receives concentrated cold air supply for efficient cooling, other chambers maintain temperature uniformity through compensatory adjustments.
3Measurement precision
If dampers are used to control cold-air passage openings, then temperature control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dampers as intermediary devices between the evaporators and storage chambers to precisely control cold air distribution. These dampers act as mediators that can be adjusted to specific positions to achieve exact temperature control targets, while the control system manages their operation to minimize overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The dampers serve multiple functions: they control cold air flow distribution, enable selective chamber cooling, and work in conjunction with temperature sensors and evaporators to achieve precise temperature control. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining high temperature control precision.
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 method effectively prevents temperature extremes in storage chambers by dynamically adjusting cold air distribution, reducing temperature fluctuations and maintaining stable operation, even with varying temperature reduction rates between chambers.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator for cooling surrounding air through a cooling action for absorbing latent heat around the refrigerant while evaporating the refrigerant supplied from the condenser
Implementation Method 2
absorbing latent heat around the refrigerant while evaporating the refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
a condenser for condensing the refrigerant in a high-temperature and high-pressure state compressed by the compressor through heat radiation
Implementation Method 4
condensing the refrigerant in a high-temperature and high-pressure state compressed by the compressor through heat radiation
Implementation Method 5
a compressor for compressing a refrigerant
Implementation Method 6
a capillary tube (or an expansion valve) is provided between the condenser and the evaporator to increase a flow rate of the refrigerant and reduce a pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A control method for a refrigerator comprises driving a first cooling fan to cool a first storage chamber; adjusting a damper to cause cold air to simultaneously flow through first and second cold-air passages; adjusting a damper to reduce the opening angle of the first cold-air passage, when the temperature of a high-temperature chamber reaches a value smaller than or equal to a second reference temperature for the high-temperature chamber; adjusting a damper to reduce the opening angle of the second cold-air passage, when the temperature of a low-temperature chamber reaches a value smaller than or equal to a second reference temperature for the low-temperature chamber; and driving a second cooling fan to cool a second storage chamber. When a predetermined time elapses or the sensed temperature of the high-temperature chamber reaches a first set temperature, the damper is adjusted to increase the opening angle of the first cold-air passage.