Refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerator control methods lead to increased power consumption and excessive cooling, failing to maintain a consistent internal temperature, as the compressor is repeatedly activated and the damper fully opens, causing temperature fluctuations.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with a damper-controlled cooling air system that adjusts the open angle of the damper based on temperature sensors' feedback, using equations to modify the cooling air supply, ensuring the refrigerating compartment maintains a stable temperature range by optimizing the flow of cooling air.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the damper is fully open to supply cooling air to the storage compartment, then the cooling effect is improved, but the temperature becomes unstable and excessive cooling occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The damper is designed with variable geometry that allows dynamic adjustment of the opening angle based on temperature feedback. The damper opening angle is continuously modified according to the temperature difference between the storage compartment and reference temperature, enabling adaptive control that prevents both insufficient and excessive cooling while maintaining temperature stability.
Solution Approach 2:
A temperature sensor continuously monitors the storage compartment temperature and feeds this information back to the control system. The control system processes this feedback and adjusts the damper opening angle accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains temperature within the desired range and prevents excessive cooling.
2Temperature
If the compressor is repeatedly activated to maintain temperature, then the temperature control is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cooling action by adjusting the damper opening angle before the temperature reaches the lower limit. The control system proactively modifies the cooling air supply based on temperature trends, preventing the need for frequent compressor restarts and reducing overall power consumption while maintaining temperature control.
3Quantity of substance
If the damper is fully open during compressor operation, then the cooling air supply is improved, but excessive cooling below desired temperature occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the damper opening angle parameter based on real-time temperature conditions. Instead of maintaining a fixed fully-open position, the damper angle is continuously adjusted according to the temperature difference and cooling requirements, ensuring adequate cooling air supply while preventing the storage compartment temperature from dropping below the desired lower limit.
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 stabilizes the temperature within the refrigerating compartment, reducing power consumption and preventing excessive cooling, while ensuring uniform temperature distribution and maintaining freshness of stored items.
Implementation Method 1
a damper (12) to adjust a flow rate of the cooling air supplied to the cool air duct (60)
Implementation Method 2
an evaporator (24) to cool the storage compartment (112)
Implementation Method 3
a compressor (21) to compress the refrigerant
Implementation Method 4
a condenser (22) to condense the refrigerant compressed by the compressor (21)
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a cabinet including a storage compartment, a storage compartment door to open or close the storage compartment, a cool air duct provided in the storage compartment and positioned at an upper portion of the storage compartment to discharge cool air to the storage compartment, a damper to adjust an amount of cool air introduced into the cool air duct, and a door discharge duct communicating with the cool air duct and extending in a front-rear direction toward the storage compartment door to discharge cool air received from the cool air duct to the storage compartment door.