Smart-Grid Refrigerator Cooling Using Off-Peak Over-Cooled Air
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators operate inefficiently under variable power rate systems, leading to high energy costs due to periodic compressor operation regardless of peak or off-peak electricity rates, resulting in undesirable financial burdens for consumers and businesses.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator system that connects to a smart grid network to receive power-rate information, allowing for over-cooling during low-rate periods and using over-cooled air to maintain storage chamber temperatures during high-rate periods, with a cold air damper controlling air distribution between chambers to optimize energy usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the compressor operates periodically to maintain storage chamber temperatures, then the refrigeration function is ensured, but the energy cost increases during high power rate periods
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary over-cooling of storage chambers during low power rate periods before high power rate periods begin. The controller receives power rate information from the smart grid and proactively lowers the temperature of storage chambers when electricity rates are low, so that the pre-cooled air can be used later during high rate periods to maintain temperatures without compressor operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the cold air already stored in the over-cooled storage chamber to cool other storage chambers during high power rate periods. The cold air damper automatically directs the over-cooled air to other chambers that need cooling, allowing the system to self-regulate and maintain refrigeration functions without additional energy consumption during peak rate periods.
2Reliability
If the compressor operates continuously to maintain all storage chambers at optimal temperatures, then the refrigeration performance is maximized, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary over-cooling of specific storage chambers during low power rate periods. The controller identifies which chambers need cooling and proactively lowers their temperatures before high power rate periods, storing cold air that can be redistributed later to maintain all chambers at optimal temperatures without continuous compressor operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cold air damper acts as an intermediary device that redirects over-cooled air from one storage chamber to other chambers that require cooling. This mediator mechanism allows efficient heat transfer between chambers, enabling the system to maintain overall refrigeration performance while avoiding the energy cost of continuous compressor operation during high power rate periods.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the system uses over-cooled air to cool other storage chambers during high power rate periods, then energy costs are reduced, but the temperature control precision may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors the temperature of storage chambers and the power rate information from the smart grid. Based on this feedback, the controller dynamically adjusts the cold air damper position and determines when to perform over-cooling operations, ensuring that temperature precision is maintained while optimizing energy cost by using over-cooled air appropriately during high power rate periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary over-cooling during low power rate periods, storing excess cold air that can be used later. This advance preparation ensures that when high power rate periods begin, the pre-stored cold air can be redistributed to maintain precise temperature control in all chambers without the need for expensive compressor operation, thus preserving temperature precision while reducing energy costs.
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 reduces energy consumption and costs by aligning refrigerator operation with low-power-rate hours, minimizing high-power-rate usage and maintaining refrigeration functions with minimal electricity expenditure.
Implementation Method 1
a cold air damper for moving cold air of the over-cooled storage chamber to the other storage chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator and a control method of the refrigerator are discussed. According to an embodiment, a control method of a refrigerator connected to an electric power management network comprises steps of receiving power-rate information via the electric power management network; setting an over-cooling period and a power-saving period based on the received power-rate information; controlling at east one storage chamber to be over-cooled by over-cooling cold air during the over-cooling period; and controlling the other storage chamber to be over-cooled by the over-cooled cold air during the power-saving period. According to the present invention, the functions of the refrigerator are provided with minimal use of electricity and/or with reduced electricity charges.