Refrigerator Food Compartment Ozone and Humidity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current food preservation systems fail to effectively retain the freshness of perishable items due to inadequate control over temperature, humidity, and microbial growth, leading to water loss and spoilage in refrigerators.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator system with a food compartment that includes a user interface, humidity sensor, ozone generator, ozone sensor, gas sensor, and controller to dynamically control humidity, ozone, and residual gas levels based on the type of food stored, maintaining optimal preservation conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the humidity level around the stored food is raised to retain food freshness, then water loss from food is reduced, but bacteria and fungus grow faster in such humid environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different humidity zones within the refrigerator compartment. The system provides high humidity in areas where food is stored to prevent water loss, while maintaining lower humidity in other areas to inhibit microbial growth. This spatial differentiation of humidity levels allows simultaneous optimization of both food freshness and microbial control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts humidity levels based on the type of food stored and storage duration. By changing the humidity parameter according to specific food requirements, the system prevents water loss in humidity-sensitive foods while controlling microbial growth through adjusted humidity levels suitable for different food types.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If food is exposed to germicidal or bactericidal environments to control bacteria and fungus growth, then microbial spoilage is reduced, but delicate vegetables show surface pitting and browning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using moderate levels of germicidal treatment rather than excessive exposure. The system provides just enough antimicrobial action to control spoilage while avoiding the harmful effects of over-treatment on delicate vegetables. This controlled, partial exposure maintains the balance between microbial control and food quality preservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic germicidal treatment cycles rather than continuous exposure. By applying antimicrobial treatment at specific intervals, the system effectively controls microbial growth while allowing delicate vegetables to recover between treatments, preventing cumulative damage such as surface pitting and browning.
3Temperature
If refrigerator storage compartments maintain a fixed temperature range to preserve food, then basic refrigeration is provided, but the system cannot adapt to different food items or storage durations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static temperature control system into a dynamic one that automatically adjusts temperature, humidity, and antimicrobial treatment levels based on the type of food stored and the intended storage duration. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize preservation conditions for each specific food item while maintaining overall refrigeration functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves multi-functionality by integrating temperature control, humidity regulation, and germicidal treatment into a single unified system. This universal approach allows the refrigerator to handle diverse food types and storage requirements using one coordinated system rather than separate dedicated systems for each function.
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 effectively retains food freshness by reducing water loss and microbial growth, while preventing premature ripening and spoilage, ensuring the quality and flavor of stored food over time.
Implementation Method 1
an ozone generator configured to generate ozone gas
Implementation Method 2
a humidity sensor configured to sense a humidity level
Data Source
AI summary
System and method for preserving food. Embodiments of the system include a food compartment to store food and a user interface configured to receive user input relating to the preservation of the food stored. The system also includes a humidity sensor configured to sense a humidity level, an ozone generator configured to generate ozone gas, an ozone sensor configured to sense an ozone level and a gas sensor configured to sense a level of residual gases inside the food compartment. The system further includes a controller, responsive to the user interface, the humidity sensor, the ozone sensor and the gas sensor. In one embodiment, the controller preserves the food stored in the food compartment as a function of the user input, the humidity level, the ozone level, the residual gas level and as a function of a type of the food stored in the food compartment.