Refrigerator Damper Control for Single-Cycle Compartment Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In refrigerators with separate compartments, the continuous cooling of the freezer compartment can lead to increased power consumption and longer compressor operation times due to temperature fluctuations between the refrigeration and freezer compartments, as the damper's operation affects the temperature control and air circulation.
Innovation Solution
A control method that stops the compressor when both compartments are at satisfactory temperatures and repeatedly opens and closes the damper to supply cold air from the freezer compartment to the refrigeration compartment through natural convection, delaying the end of the refrigeration compartment's cooling operation and optimizing compressor usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the damper is opened to cool the refrigeration compartment after the freezer compartment cooling is completed, then the refrigeration compartment temperature is decreased to the set temperature, but the freezer compartment temperature increases and requires longer compressor operation time
Solution Approach 1:
The damper is opened in advance during the freezer compartment cooling process to allow cold air to be supplied to the refrigeration compartment before it is needed. This preliminary action ensures that when the damper is later closed to complete freezer cooling, the refrigeration compartment has already been pre-cooled, reducing the need for extended compressor operation to re-cool it afterward.
2Temperature
If the damper is opened to cool the refrigeration compartment, then the refrigeration compartment temperature is maintained, but power consumption increases due to extended compressor operation
Solution Approach 1:
The damper is opened during the freezer cooling process to pre-cool the refrigeration compartment in advance. This allows the refrigeration compartment to reach or approach the desired temperature before the damper is closed, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for additional compressor operation and reducing overall power consumption.
3Temperature
If the cooling operation of the refrigeration compartment is performed multiple times while the compressor is driven, then the temperature control is maintained, but the compressor operation time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The damper is opened during the freezer compartment cooling process to perform preliminary cooling of the refrigeration compartment. This advance action reduces the need for multiple separate cooling operations of the refrigeration compartment, allowing temperature control to be achieved with fewer compressor cycles and reduced total operation time.
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 reduces power consumption by maintaining the refrigeration compartment's temperature efficiently and shortening the cooling time, while minimizing the compressor's operation time and preventing temperature increases in the refrigeration compartment.
Implementation Method 1
controls the opening/closing operations of the damper to repeatedly perform so that cold air in the freezer compartment is supplied into the refrigeration compartment through the supply duct
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator and a method of control thereof, whereby after driving of a compressor and a blower fan is stopped as temperatures of a refrigeration compartment and a freezer compartment are in a satisfactory state, opening/closing operations of a damper are repeatedly performed, so that cold air in the freezer compartment is supplied into the refrigeration compartment. Alternatively, if the temperature of the refrigeration compartment reaches an upper limit temperature, the repeated opening/closing operations of the damper are started. The repeated opening/closing operations of the damper are performed until the temperature of the refrigeration compartment reaches a lower limit temperature, so that a cooling operation of the refrigeration compartment is performed only once while the compressor is being driven.