Refrigerator and method for controlling the same
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In refrigerators with independent cooling chambers, the higher vapor pressure at the refrigerating chamber evaporator makes it difficult for refrigerant to move from the freezing chamber evaporator to the compressor, leading to refrigerant shortages and inefficient operation, which results in unnecessary compressor operation and increased power consumption during 'pump down' cycles.
Innovation Solution
A method is implemented to control the refrigerant valve, ensuring the inside pressure of the freezing chamber evaporator remains higher than the refrigerating chamber evaporator by blocking refrigerant introduction to the freezing chamber during compressor operation, allowing for efficient refrigerant recovery and reducing power consumption by eliminating 'pump down' cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the refrigerant valve is closed to prevent refrigerant introduction to the freezing chamber evaporator after evaporation completion, then refrigerant recovery is improved, but unnecessary compressor operation occurs leading to increased power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The control method introduces refrigerant to the freezing chamber evaporator in advance before compressor operation, ensuring sufficient refrigerant is available when the compressor starts. This preliminary refrigerant introduction eliminates the need for post-evaporation valve closing and subsequent pump-down operations, thereby preventing unnecessary compressor cycling and reducing power consumption while maintaining reliable refrigerant recovery
Solution Approach 2:
The control method monitors evaporation completion status and compressor operation state to dynamically control the refrigerant valve timing. By using feedback from evaporator status and compressor cycling patterns, the system optimizes refrigerant valve operation to introduce refrigerant at the right moment, avoiding both refrigerant shortage and unnecessary compressor operation, thus resolving the contradiction between refrigerant recovery reliability and power consumption
2Reliability
If the compressor is operated for preset time period to draw in low pressure refrigerant from freezing chamber evaporator, then refrigerant recovery is improved, but power is consumed regardless of cold air formation
Solution Approach 1:
Refrigerant is introduced to the freezing chamber evaporator in advance before compressor operation begins. This ensures the evaporator is pre-filled with sufficient refrigerant, eliminating the need for post-evaporation pump-down operations. The preliminary action eliminates unnecessary compressor cycling dedicated solely to refrigerant recovery, thereby reducing energy loss while maintaining effective refrigerant recovery
Solution Approach 2:
The control method changes the timing parameter of refrigerant valve operation based on evaporator status and compressor cycle phase. By adjusting when refrigerant is introduced (timing parameter) rather than relying on fixed preset compressor run times, the system recovers refrigerant efficiently during normal operation without requiring separate energy-consuming pump-down cycles, thus reducing overall energy expenditure
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 approach prevents unnecessary compressor operation, saving power consumption by ensuring refrigerant is recovered efficiently without forming cold air, thereby reducing energy expenditure during refrigeration and freezing operations.
Implementation Method 1
since a vapor pressure of the refrigerating chamber evaporator is higher than a vapor pressure of the freezing chamber evaporator, it is difficult for the refrigerant to move from the freezing chamber evaporator to an inlet of the compressor
Implementation Method 2
The refrigerator is provided with the compressor for compressing refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
a condenser for condensing the refrigerant compressed thus
Implementation Method 4
an expansion device for causing adiabatic expansion of the refrigerant condensed thus to drop a temperature of the refrigerant
Implementation Method 5
a heat exchanger connected to the expansion device for causing heat exchange between low temperature refrigerant and air
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a refrigerator and a method for controlling a refrigerator, and more particularly to a refrigerator and a method for controlling a refrigerator in which unnecessary operation of a compressor is prevented for saving power consumption of the refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a compressor, a refrigerating chamber evaporator and a freezing chamber evaporator connected to the compressor, a refrigerant valve for guiding refrigerant to the refrigerating chamber evaporator or the freezing chamber evaporator, and a control unit for controlling the refrigerant valve such that the refrigerant valve blocks or introduces the refrigerant to cause an inside pressure of the freezing chamber evaporator to be elevated higher than an inside pressure of the refrigerating chamber evaporator during evaporation at the refrigerating chamber evaporator for the compressor to draw in the refrigerant remained in the freezing chamber evaporator which did not evaporate.