Refrigerator operation control method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator technologies face challenges in maintaining a constant temperature during defrosting operations, leading to excessive cooling or heating of storage compartments, which can cause deterioration or overcooling of stored objects.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator operation control method that uses high-temperature refrigerant flow paths to manage heat supply to evaporators, including pre-heat supply, heat supply, and temperature return operations, to maintain storage compartments within a set temperature range, utilizing cooling and heating processes to prevent temperature deviations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hot gas is used to defrost the freezing compartment evaporator, then defrosting effectiveness is improved, but the refrigerating compartment temperature becomes unstable and may be excessively cooled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary cooling process before the hot gas defrosting operation. This cooling process acts as a mediator to lower the refrigerating compartment temperature in advance, creating a temperature buffer that prevents excessive cooling during defrosting. The cooling process is controlled to stop before the refrigerating compartment reaches its lower limit reference temperature, ensuring temperature stability during the subsequent defrosting operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing a cooling process before the defrosting operation. This preliminary cooling lowers the refrigerating compartment temperature and stops the cooling operation at a predetermined timing before the lower limit reference temperature is reached. This preliminary preparation ensures that when hot gas defrosting occurs, the refrigerating compartment temperature remains stable and does not drop excessively.
2Temperature
If cooling operation is performed before defrosting to prevent excessive cooling, then temperature stability is improved, but the cooling operation may cause the refrigerating compartment to reach excessive cooling temperature quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by performing cooling operation only for a portion of the time needed to reach the lower limit reference temperature. The cooling operation is deliberately stopped before the refrigerating compartment reaches the lower limit reference temperature, performing only the necessary cooling to create a temperature buffer without over-cooling. This partial cooling prevents excessive cooling while maintaining temperature stability during defrosting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback control by continuously monitoring the refrigerating compartment temperature and comparing it with the lower limit reference temperature. When the temperature reaches a predetermined value higher than the lower limit reference temperature, the control unit stops the cooling operation. This feedback mechanism prevents the refrigerating compartment from reaching excessive cooling temperature quickly, optimizing both temperature stability and time management.
3Reliability
If deep cooling process is performed with temperature lower than notch temperature, then pre-cooling effectiveness is improved, but the refrigerating compartment is excessively cooled causing deterioration or freezing of stored objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the temperature parameter during the cooling process. Instead of cooling to a fixed low temperature, the cooling operation is dynamically controlled to stop when the refrigerating compartment temperature reaches a predetermined value that is higher than the lower limit reference temperature. This parameter change ensures effective pre-cooling while preventing the temperature from dropping to levels that would cause deterioration or freezing of stored objects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback control to monitor the refrigerating compartment temperature and adjust the cooling operation accordingly. The control unit continuously compares the actual temperature with the predetermined temperature and stops the cooling operation when the temperature reaches the predetermined value. This feedback mechanism ensures that the pre-cooling is effective but does not proceed to excessive cooling levels that would harm stored objects.
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 maintains storage compartments within a constant temperature range during defrosting, preventing deterioration of stored objects by controlling temperature fluctuations and optimizing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a first hot gas flow path that guides a flow of refrigerant through a first evaporator to a second evaporator
Implementation Method 2
the refrigerant passing through the freezing compartment evaporator sequentially passes through an expansion valve and the evaporator of the refrigerating compartment and then cools the refrigerating compartment evaporator
Data Source
AI summary
In the refrigerator operation control method of the present disclosure, each storage compartment is controlled to be maintained within a constant temperature range for each storage compartment during at least one at least one operation of a pre-heat supply operation, a heat supply operation, and a temperature returning operation. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent or minimize each storage compartment from exceeding a constant temperature range due to the heat supply operation.