Refrigerator, refrigerator management system, and control method for refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing refrigerator systems achieve limited power-saving effects as they only reduce power consumption during peak usage times, leading to insufficient overall power-saving performance.
Innovation Solution
The refrigerator system includes a control method that allows for the appropriate management of the compressor, air blower, and blowout volume control device based on a user's schedule, enabling enhanced power-saving by adjusting cooling operations according to usage patterns and storage conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If power-saving operation is performed only during peak usage times, then power consumption is reduced during those specific periods, but the overall power-saving effect remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerator pre-cools or pre-heats storage chambers before anticipated user absence periods based on stored schedule information. This preliminary action allows the system to reduce cooling operations during periods when users will be away, maximizing power-saving opportunities while ensuring food safety is maintained during user presence periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts cooling operations based on real-time comparison between current time and scheduled user presence/absence patterns. The system transitions between different cooling intensities and operational modes according to the user's schedule, optimizing power consumption across varying time periods rather than using fixed peak-time reduction strategies.
2Loss of energy
If cooling operations are reduced to save power, then energy consumption decreases, but food preservation quality may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cooling to achieve lower temperatures before user absence periods begin. This creates a thermal buffer that maintains food preservation quality during the reduced cooling period, allowing power consumption to be reduced without compromising food safety since the pre-established cold reserve prevents temperature rise during absence.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system applies different cooling strategies to different storage chambers based on their specific requirements and the user's schedule. Critical chambers containing perishable items maintain stricter temperature control during user presence, while less critical chambers can tolerate greater temperature variations during user absence, enabling differentiated power-saving measures that preserve food quality where necessary.
Data Source
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AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator, a refrigerator management system, and a control method for a refrigerator, capable of enhancing a power-saving effect of the refrigerator. The refrigerator of the present invention includes: a main body having a storage chamber; a refrigeration cycle device including a compressor and a cooler; an air blower configured to blow cooling air cooled by the cooler to the storage chamber; a blowout volume control device configured to control a blowout volume of the cooling air to be blown out to the storage chamber; input means for receiving input of schedule information that is information about a schedule of a user; storage means for storing the schedule information input into the input means; and control means for controlling at least one of the compressor, the air blower, and the blowout volume control device based on the schedule information.