Refrigerator Filter Module Design for Bacteria and Allergen Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators fail to effectively remove bacteria and allergens from storage rooms, leading to poor sanitation and potential contamination of stored foods, and lack an independent sterilization system to maintain cleanliness.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with a filter module comprising sterilization filters, a deodorization filter, and an anti-allergen filter, along with a control unit that manages the operation of these components to provide independent sterilization and deodorization, and an optional UV lighting system for enhanced air purification, and a sensor unit for detecting contamination sources and monitoring food freshness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional refrigerators are used for food storage, then food preservation is achieved, but bacteria and allergens accumulate in the storage room causing poor sanitation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the air handling system into separate functional modules: a sterilization filter module for removing bacteria, an anti-allergen filter module for removing allergens, and a deodorization filter module for removing odors. This segmentation allows each module to specialize in removing specific harmful factors without interfering with the food preservation function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces filter modules as intermediary components between the storage room air and the food items. These filters act as mediators that capture and remove harmful particles (bacteria, allergens, odor molecules) from the air before the air contacts the stored food, preventing contamination while maintaining the refrigeration environment.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If sterilization and deodorization functions are added to the refrigerator, then sanitation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple filter types (sterilization filter, anti-allergen filter, deodorization filter) into integrated filter modules that can be installed within the existing refrigerator structure. By merging these functions into compact modular units, the system achieves improved sanitation without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter modules are designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: the sterilization filter removes bacteria, the anti-allergen filter removes allergens, and the deodorization filter removes odors. This multi-functionality allows a single integrated system to address multiple sanitation issues without requiring separate independent devices for each function.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If continuous sterilization operation is performed, then sanitation is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic sterilization cycles rather than continuous operation. The control unit activates the sterilization function at predetermined intervals (e.g., every 24 hours or based on usage patterns), allowing the refrigerator to maintain sanitation effectiveness while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates sensors that monitor conditions within the storage room (such as temperature, humidity, and contamination levels) and provide feedback to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit intelligently adjusts the sterilization operation timing and duration, activating the sterilization function only when necessary to maintain sanitation, thereby optimizing power consumption.
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
The solution effectively sterilizes and deodorizes the storage room, removes allergens, and maintains cleanliness, reducing power consumption by selectively performing sterilization based on food introduction and temperature changes, while also detecting and displaying bacterial presence and food freshness.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of sterilization filters arranged in the housing
Implementation Method 2
a deodorization filter, and an anti-allergen filter
Implementation Method 3
a fan for blowing the air inside the storage room into the evaporator and for re-storing the heat-exchanged cold air into the storage room
Implementation Method 4
a filter module comprising at least one UV lighting source to irradiate an ultraviolet light toward air inside the storage room
Implementation Method 5
a photocatalyst filter to filter the air having the UV light irradiated thereto
Implementation Method 6
a compressor provided in the case, to compress refrigerant
Implementation Method 7
an evaporator for generating cold air by heat-exchanging with air inside the storage room
Data Source
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AI summary
A refrigerator is disclosed. The refrigerator stores foods at a low point of temperature and removes bacteria of the foods stored in a storage room effectively, to maintain the storage room clean.