Refrigerator with freezing storage device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators fail to effectively maintain the quality of frozen food, leading to issues such as poor taste and dark color due to water loss, and increased energy consumption from quick freezing methods, while magnetic fields have shown limited practical assistance in improving freezing storage quality.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with a freezing storage device that uses a magnetic field controlled by electromagnetic coils, where the magnetic field application mode is adjusted based on the state of stored food, inhibiting ice crystal growth and reducing water loss, and optimizing energy efficiency by targeting the magnetic field application during the freezing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If quick freezing is used to increase freezing speed, then freezing storage quality is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies magnetic field parameters (strength, direction, timing) to control the freezing process. By changing the magnetic field parameters during different stages of freezing, the system achieves quick freezing effects without proportionally increasing energy consumption, as the magnetic field assists heat transfer and ice crystal formation control
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic field acts as an intermediary between the cooling system and the food material. Instead of directly increasing cooling power (which would increase energy consumption), the magnetic field mediates the freezing process by influencing water molecule arrangement and heat transfer, achieving improved freezing speed and quality with moderate energy input
2Reliability
If magnetic field is applied to improve freezing storage quality, then ice crystal formation is controlled, but magnetization influence on external components occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The electromagnetic coils are controlled to operate periodically rather than continuously. The magnetic field is applied in cycles during the freezing process, allowing the magnetic flux to dissipate between cycles. This periodic operation maintains freezing storage quality while reducing cumulative magnetization effects on external metallic components
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic field strength and application timing are dynamically adjusted during the freezing process. The system adapts the magnetic field parameters based on the freezing stage and food state, applying stronger fields when needed for ice crystal control and reducing or stopping fields when magnetization effects become problematic, thus balancing quality improvement with harm reduction
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 controlled magnetic field enhances the quality of frozen food by reducing ice crystal damage, preserving taste and nutrition, while minimizing energy consumption and magnetization effects on external components.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of groups of electromagnetic coils transversely arranged outside the storage box in parallel and configured to determine a corresponding magnetic field application mode
Implementation Method 2
a magnetic frame made of a magnetic material, fitted over the storage box and configured to allow the magnetic field to pass through the magnetic frame to complete a closed loop of a magnetic line
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator with a freezing storage device, including: a cabinet provided therein with a storage compartment for achieving a freezing storage function; and the freezing storage device arranged in the storage compartment and including: a storage box having a freezing storage space defined therein; a storage detection device provided in the storage box and configured to detect a state of stored food in the freezing storage space; and a plurality of groups of electromagnetic coils transversely arranged outside the storage box in parallel and configured to determine a corresponding magnetic field application mode according to the state of the stored food, the magnetic field application mode including: stopping of generation of the magnetic field, starting of part of the plural groups of electromagnetic coils, and complete starting of the plural groups of electromagnetic coils.