Refrigerator and control method therefor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators do not efficiently integrate a fermenter for producing fermented foods, requiring separate storage and lacking control over fermentation temperature and time, leading to inconvenience and potential food deterioration.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with a built-in fermenter that includes a processor-controlled heater and fan system, allowing for user-inputted temperature and time settings for different types of fermented foods, enabling precise fermentation control and immediate cooling post-production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a built-in fermenter is integrated into the refrigerator, then the convenience of immediate storage after fermentation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fermenter and refrigerator into a single integrated appliance. The fermenter includes a container for fermentation ingredients, a heater for temperature control, and a fan for air circulation, all integrated within the refrigerator body. This merging eliminates the need for separate fermentation and storage devices, directly resolving the contradiction by improving convenience while managing complexity through unified design.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigerator is designed to perform multiple functions: it can operate as a standard refrigerator for cooling food, and as a fermenter for producing fermented foods. The control unit enables the system to switch between different operating modes (refrigeration mode and fermentation mode), making the device universal and multi-functional, thereby improving ease of operation without requiring entirely separate appliances.
2Manufacturing precision
If precise temperature control is implemented for different fermentation types, then the fermentation quality is improved, but the control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is programmed with pre-set temperature and time parameters for different types of fermentation (e.g., yogurt, cheese, pickles). Users can select from predefined fermentation types, and the system automatically adjusts the heater power and duration accordingly. This approach maintains high fermentation quality through precise parameter control while simplifying user interaction, as no manual calibration or complex settings are required.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates temperature sensors that continuously monitor the internal temperature of the fermentation container. The control unit receives feedback from these sensors and adjusts the heater output in real-time to maintain the target temperature. This closed-loop feedback control ensures precise temperature management for high-quality fermentation while automating the control process, thereby reducing the perceived complexity for users.
3Productivity
If rapid fermentation is enabled with higher temperatures, then the fermentation time is reduced, but the risk of food deterioration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the temperature profile during fermentation based on the selected fermentation type and elapsed time. For rapid fermentation modes, the control unit initially applies higher temperatures to accelerate the process, then automatically reduces the temperature as the fermentation progresses to prevent overheating and food deterioration. This dynamic temperature adjustment optimizes both fermentation speed and food safety throughout the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The fermentation process is divided into multiple stages with different temperature settings. The control unit implements periodic cycles of heating and cooling, or gradual temperature reductions, to balance rapid fermentation with food safety. For example, the system may start at a high temperature for the first hour to kickstart fermentation, then gradually lower the temperature in subsequent stages to complete the process safely, thereby achieving both high productivity and reliability.
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
Enables the production of various fermented foods with customizable fermentation levels and times, ensuring freshness and user preference, while preventing food deterioration by immediate cooling post-production.
Implementation Method 1
a heater arranged in the case; The processor may be configured to control the heater to maintain the temperature in the case at a fermentation temperature
Implementation Method 2
a fan configured to introduce air from outside the case into the case; The processor may be configured to control the fan to introduce air in the storage compartment into the case
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator including a main body; a control panel arranged on one surface of the main body; a storage compartment arranged in the main body; a case arranged in the storage compartment; a heater arranged in the case; a fan configured to introduce air from outside the case into the case; and a processor configured to control the heater to maintain a temperature in the case at a fermentation temperature for a fermentation time. The processor may control the heater to maintain a temperature in the case at a first temperature for a first time period based on receiving a user input for a normal fermentation from the control panel, and control the heater to maintain the temperature in the case at a second temperature higher than the first temperature for a second time period shorter than the first time period, based on receiving a user input for a rapid fermentation from the control panel.