Refrigerator and method for controlling same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators face challenges in producing ice with uniform transparency, as existing technologies struggle to manage ice making rates and bubble removal effectively, leading to inconsistent ice quality and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator system that includes a controller to manage the heating amount of a transparent ice heater and the cooling power of the cold air supply based on temperature sensors, ensuring uniform transparency by varying the heating and cooling in response to changes in the heat transfer between the ice making cell and the storage chamber, and adjusting operations when the door is opened or closed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the heating amount of the heater is increased to suppress the increase in solidification rate, then the transparency of ice is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is activated before water is supplied to the ice making cell, pre-heating the cell and creating favorable conditions for subsequent ice making. This preliminary heating action reduces the need for excessive heating during the ice making process itself, thereby improving transparency while controlling energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The heater operates intermittently during the ice making process rather than continuously, with heating periods synchronized to specific stages of ice formation. This periodic heating maintains transparency by providing heat when needed while minimizing overall energy consumption compared to continuous heating.
2Productivity
If the solidification rate is increased to improve productivity, then the ice making time is reduced, but the transparency of ice deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By pre-heating the ice making cell before water supply, the system creates optimal initial conditions that allow for controlled solidification. This preliminary preparation enables the water to solidify at an appropriate rate that maintains transparency, rather than forcing a high solidification rate that would trap bubbles and reduce clarity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the heating amount based on the solidification rate and stage of ice formation. By changing the heating parameter in response to solidification progress, the system maintains optimal conditions for transparency while managing the overall ice making time and productivity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the heating amount is increased when about 2/3 of water is solidified, then the transparency is improved, but the uniformity of transparency across different ice shapes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is activated before water supply to pre-heat the ice making cell, establishing uniform thermal conditions throughout the cell before ice formation begins. This preliminary heating ensures that heat distribution remains relatively uniform throughout the ice making process, producing consistent transparency across different ice shapes rather than creating localized variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system is designed to provide uniform heat distribution across the entire ice making cell surface, ensuring that all regions of the cell receive consistent heating. This uniform local quality of heating maintains consistent transparency throughout the ice, regardless of the ice shape being formed.
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 system achieves uniform transparency of ice across different shapes and reduces energy consumption by optimizing ice making rates and minimizing the impact of door opening on ice quality and energy use.
Implementation Method 1
a transparent ice heater disposed below the ice making cell... a heating amount of the transparent ice heater... when about 2/3 of water is solidified, a heating amount of the heater increases
Implementation Method 2
cold air supply part supplying cooling power... controller may control an output of the transparent ice heater and/or the cooling power of the cold air supply part
Implementation Method 3
heat transfer between the ice making cell and the storage chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator comprises: a storage compartment for storing food; a first temperature sensor; a door; a cold air supply means; trays forming ice-making cells; a second temperature sensor; a heater for supplying heat to the trays; and a control unit, wherein, after opening or closing of the door is sensed during the ice-making process, the control unit increases the cooling power of the cold air supply means if an increase in cooling power therefrom is determined to be needed on the basis of the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor, and decreases the amount of heat applied by the heater if a reduction in heat applied by the heater is determined to be needed on the basis of the change in temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor.