Disclosure of Invention
In view of the above, the present invention has been made to provide a refrigerator that overcomes or at least partially solves the above problems.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaseous atmosphere that is rich in nitrogen and lean in oxygen to facilitate the preservation of food.
It is another object of the present invention to improve the operating efficiency of the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a refrigerator including: a cabinet having a storage compartment formed therein; the inner container is arranged on the inner side of the refrigerator body, an air duct of the refrigerator is formed between the refrigerator body and the inner container, and an opening is formed in the side wall of one side of the inner container; an electrolytic oxygen removal assembly disposed on the opening and configured to consume oxygen inside the storage compartment through an electrolytic reaction, the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly comprising: an anode plate configured to electrolyze water vapor to generate hydrogen ions and oxygen; a cathode plate configured to generate water by reacting hydrogen ions with oxygen; and a proton exchange membrane sandwiched between the cathode plate and the anode plate, configured to transport hydrogen ions from the anode plate side to the cathode plate side; wherein, the surface of the cathode plate back to the proton exchange membrane faces the storage compartment, and the surface of the anode plate back to the proton exchange membrane faces the air duct.
Optionally, a plurality of air duct openings communicated with the air duct are arranged on the side wall of the inner container.
Optionally, the distance between the opening and one of the air duct openings is less than a preset length.
Optionally, the storage compartment comprises: a refrigerating compartment located at the upper part of the refrigerator; and a freezing compartment located at the lower part of the refrigerator; wherein the electrolytic deoxidizing component is arranged on the inner container of the refrigerating chamber.
Optionally, the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly further comprises: and the fan is arranged on one side of the anode plate back to the proton exchange membrane so as to blow the water vapor in the air channel space to the anode plate.
Optionally, the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly further comprises: and the two elastic plates are arranged on the outer sides of the anode plate and the cathode plate and are used for clamping the anode plate, the proton exchange membrane and the cathode plate.
Optionally, the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly further comprises: and the two diffusion layers are respectively arranged between the anode plate and the proton exchange membrane and between the cathode plate and the proton exchange membrane and are used for conducting electricity and allowing water vapor to diffuse.
Optionally, the diffusion layer is a titanium mesh with a platinum-plated surface.
Optionally, the edge of the anode plate is also provided with an anode plate terminal for connecting the anode of the external battery; the edge of the cathode plate is also provided with a cathode plate terminal for connecting the cathode of the external battery.
Optionally, the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly further comprises: the accommodating box is used for integrating all parts in the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly, the top of the accommodating box is provided with a mounting opening used for accommodating all parts of the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly, and the bottom surface of the accommodating box is hollowed out to allow gas to pass through.
The present invention provides a refrigerator, comprising: box, storing container and electrolysis deoxidization subassembly. The electrolytic oxygen removal assembly is used to consume oxygen from the air in the storage compartment to obtain a nitrogen-rich and oxygen-lean atmosphere in the space to facilitate the preservation of food. The gas atmosphere reduces the oxygen content in the storage room, reduces the aerobic respiration intensity of food (especially fruits and vegetables), ensures the basic respiration effect, and prevents the food from anaerobic respiration, thereby achieving the purpose of keeping the food fresh for a long time. The electrolytic oxygen removal assembly is arranged on the inner container of the refrigerator and is arranged at a position close to the air duct opening. In the present invention, the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly is positioned adjacent to the air duct opening of the refrigerator. The air duct opening belongs to a cold and hot air junction, so that the humidity is high. The electrolytic deoxidizing component is arranged at the position, so that the water vapor can be electrolyzed by the anode plate, the electrolytic reaction speed can be increased, and the working efficiency is improved.
Further, the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly also comprises a fan used for blowing water vapor to the anode plate. The reactant of the anode plate of the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly is water, and the anode plate needs to be continuously supplemented with water so that the electrolytic reaction can be continuously carried out. When the electrolytic deoxidizing component is started to work, the battery supplies power to the cathode plate and the anode plate respectively, the fan is started simultaneously, and when the fan blows air to the anode plate, water vapor in the air is blown to the anode plate together so as to provide reactants for the anode plate. Therefore, the air outside the refrigerator can provide enough reactants for the anode plate, and a water source or a water conveying device is not required to be separately arranged for the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly, so that the structure of the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly is simplified.
Further, the components of the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly are integrally disposed within a containment box. When the electrolysis deoxidization subassembly is installed, the electrolysis deoxidization subassembly that will assemble is whole to be inserted in the opening of inner bag, when holding inside that the box is whole to enter into the inner bag, and the installation of electrolysis deoxidization subassembly is accomplished. If the user does not need the deoxidization function of storing container, then will hold the box and wholly take out can. Because the electrolytic deoxidization assembly is arranged on the side wall of the inner container, the refrigerator can be simply and conveniently installed or detached as long as a user opens the refrigerator, and therefore the use experience of the user is improved.
The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of specific embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Detailed Description
An embodiment of the present invention provides a refrigerator, as shown in fig. 1 to 3, including: a tank, a liner 410, and an electrolytic oxygen scavenging assembly 200. The refrigerator body forms a storage compartment inside the refrigerator body. In this embodiment, the refrigerator is an air-cooled refrigerator, and the interior of the air-cooled refrigerator cools the storage compartment by using an air flow cycle. The inner container 410 is arranged on the inner side of the refrigerator body, each side face of the inner container 410 is arranged at a certain distance from the corresponding side wall of the refrigerator body, and the space between the refrigerator body and the inner container 410 forms an air duct 430 of the air-cooled refrigerator. The refrigerator evaporator is disposed inside the air duct 430, and delivers cool air into each compartment of the refrigerator through the air duct 430. In this embodiment, the air ducts 430 are formed at the rear and both sides of the air-cooled refrigerator, and the evaporator is disposed in the air duct 430 at the rear. The storage compartment of the refrigerator includes: a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment located below the refrigerating compartment. In this embodiment, a plurality of air vents 431 are formed on the left and right side walls of the inner container 430, and the air vents 431 allow air in the storage compartment to enter the inside of the air duct, so that the evaporator can refrigerate the circulating air. One side wall of the inner container 430 is further provided with an opening, and the distance from the opening to one of the air duct openings 431 is less than a preset length. In the present embodiment, the plurality of air duct openings 431 are arranged on the inner container along the transverse direction, and the openings are disposed above the plurality of air duct openings 431. The distance of the opening from its nearest one of the air duct openings 431 is less than a preset length, which may be set to 10cm, to ensure that the opening is located adjacent to the air duct opening 431.
An electrolytic oxygen scavenging assembly 200 is removably disposed at the opening and is configured to consume oxygen from the interior of the storage compartment via an electrolytic reaction. In this embodiment, the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly is disposed on the opening of the inner container 430, so that the user can conveniently mount or dismount the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly 200 after opening the door of the refrigerator.
In this embodiment, electrolytic oxygen removal assembly 200 is positioned adjacent to air vent 431 of the refrigerator. The air duct opening 431 is a junction of cold air and hot air, so that the humidity is high, and the water vapor content in the air is rich. The electrolytic oxygen removal assembly 200 is disposed at this location to facilitate the acceleration of the electrolytic reaction, thereby improving the work efficiency.
As shown in fig. 5, electrolytic oxygen scavenging assembly 200 comprises: a cell, an anode plate 220, a cathode plate 230, and a proton exchange membrane 210 sandwiched between the cathode plate 230 and the anode plate 220. The battery may be disposed within a foam layer of the refrigerator cabinet. The side of the cathode plate 230 facing away from the proton exchange membrane 210 faces the storage compartment, and the cathode plate 230 is in contact with the air inside the storage compartment. The side of the anode plate 220 opposite to the pem 210 faces the air duct, and the anode plate 220 is in contact with the air in the air duct. That is, the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly 200 has at least a 3-layer structure, in order, an anode plate 220, a proton exchange membrane 210, and a cathode plate 230. Each layer of structure is parallel to the plane of the opening, and the area of each layer is the same as the size of the opening.
Preferably, the cathode plate 230 and the anode plate 220 are carbon electrode plates or platinum electrode plates, and carbon electrodes with platinum plating on the surfaces are generally used. The edges of the anode plate 220 and the cathode plate 230 are each provided with a terminal, an anode plate terminal 221 and a cathode plate terminal 231, respectively, for connecting the anode and cathode of the cell, respectively. The cell provides electrons to the cathode plate 230 while the anode plate 220 provides electrons to the cell anode. The anode plate 220 is configured to electrolyze water vapor, producing protons and oxygen. The proton exchange membrane 210 is configured to transport protons from the anode plate 220 side to the cathode plate 230 side. The cathode plate 230 is configured to generate water by reacting protons and oxygen. Wherein, the chemical reaction formula of anode plate and negative plate is respectively:
an anode plate: 2H2O→O2+4H++4e-
A negative plate: o is2+4H++4e-→2H2O
Specifically, the anode of the battery charges the anode plate 220, and water vapor near the air duct opening 431 is electrolyzed at one side of the anode plate 220 to generate hydrogen ions and oxygen, the oxygen is discharged into the air duct space, and the hydrogen ions enter the proton exchange membrane 210. The cathode of the battery charges the cathode plate 230 and provides electrons to the cathode plate 230, and the hydrogen ions provided from the proton exchange membrane 210 react with the oxygen inside the storage compartment to generate water on one side of the cathode plate 230, thereby consuming the oxygen inside the storage compartment. In this embodiment, because the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly 200 is disposed near the air duct opening 431, the humidity near the anode plate 220 is relatively high, which is beneficial to the anode plate 220 to electrolyze water vapor, and improves the working efficiency of the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly 200.
The proton exchange membrane 210 includes: a proton-conducting polymer, a porous membrane, and at least one active ingredient. At least one active ingredient is dispersed in the proton-conducting polymer, and the proton-conducting polymer is absorbed into and fills the pores of the porous film. The proton exchange membrane 210 serves to allow hydrogen ions to pass through, so that hydrogen ions generated by the reaction of the anode plate 220 are transported to the cathode plate 230 for reaction of the cathode plate 230.
Preferably, the proton conducting polymer is polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSSA) or carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). The porous membrane is Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP) or polyolefin film or fluorinated ethylene propylene or glass fiber or ceramic fiber or polymer fiber; the active component is silica gel suitable for electroosmotic flow, and the dispersed silica gel concentration is no more than 5% of the mass of the proton exchange membrane.
In this embodiment, the electrolytic oxygen scavenging assembly 200 may further comprise: two elastic plates 240, respectively disposed at the outer sides of the anode plate 220 and the cathode plate 230, for clamping the anode plate 220, the proton exchange membrane 210 and the cathode plate 230. The electrolytic oxygen removing assembly 200 further comprises a plurality of fastening screws, a plurality of screw holes 201 are formed in the positions, close to the edges, of the two elastic plates 240, the anode plate 220, the proton exchange membrane 210 and the cathode plate 230, and each fastening screw penetrates through the screw holes 201 in the same position of the plurality of parts in sequence to realize the fixation and clamping of the multilayer parts. The sides of the two elastic plates 240 facing the cathode plate 230 and the anode plate 220 are respectively provided with a plurality of elastic protrusions 241, and the positions of the elastic protrusions 241 on the two elastic plates 240 correspond, that is, each elastic protrusion 241 can cooperate with one elastic protrusion 241 on the other plate to press the anode plate 220 and the cathode plate 230 together for further tightening the proton exchange membrane 210. The middle part of each elastic plate 240 is hollowed out, or a plurality of air holes are uniformly formed, so as to allow air to pass through.
In this embodiment, electrolytic oxygen scavenging assembly 200 can further comprise: a diffusion layer 270, an activated carbon filter screen, and one or more gaskets 260. The diffusion layer 270 is located between the anode plate 220 and the proton exchange membrane 210 and between the cathode plate 230 and the proton exchange membrane 210, and the material of the diffusion layer 270 is a titanium mesh with a platinum-plated surface, which is used for facilitating electric conduction and allowing water vapor to diffuse. The activated carbon filter screen is disposed on a side of the anode opposite to the proton exchange membrane 210 for purifying the gas entering the anode plate 220. At least one gasket 260 may be positioned between the above-described multi-layered structures, and each gasket 260 is a thin rectangular ring having the same size as the cathode plate 230 and the anode plate 220. Each gasket 260 is made of an elastic material to buffer a pressing force between adjacent layers.
Electrolytic oxygen scavenging assembly 200 further comprises: a fan. The fan may be a micro axial flow fan. The blower is disposed on a side of the anode plate 220 opposite to the pem 210, and has a rotation axis perpendicular to the anode plate 220 for blowing the water vapor near the air duct opening 431 toward the anode plate 220. The reactant of the anode plate of the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly 200 of the present embodiment is water vapor, and therefore, the anode plate needs to be supplemented with water vapor continuously so that the electrolytic reaction can be continuously performed. When the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly 200 is turned on, the batteries respectively supply power to the cathode plate 230 and the anode plate 220, and the blower is turned on, and blows air and water vapor in the air to the anode plate 220 simultaneously when the blower blows air to the anode plate 220 so as to provide reactants to the anode plate 220. Because the air near the air vent 431 is able to provide sufficient reactant to the anode plate 220, there is no need to provide a separate water source or water delivery device for the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly 200.
In this embodiment, the multi-layer structure of the cathode plate 230, the anode plate 220, and the proton exchange membrane 210 are integrated into a container 280 to facilitate the assembly and disassembly of the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly 200. The receiving box 280 may be completely embedded in the sidewall of the inner container 430 or partially embedded therein.
As shown in FIG. 6, the X direction is defined as the length direction of the housing box 280, Y is the width direction, and Z is the height direction. The top of the containing box 280 is opened with a rectangular mounting opening for installing each component in the electrolytic oxygen removing assembly 200, and the size of the mounting opening is matched with the size of the cathode plate 230 and the anode plate 220. The bottom surface of the containment box 280 is hollowed out to allow gas to pass through, and in this embodiment, a cross bracket 286 is also secured to the bottom surface of the containment box 280 to support the various components of the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly 200.
One of the side walls of the accommodation box 280 is also provided with two through holes 285 to allow the anode plate terminal 221 and the cathode plate terminal 231 to protrude. The anode plate terminal 221 or the cathode plate terminal 231 extends out of the containing box 280 and then is connected with the cathode and the anode of the battery through a line.
When assembling the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly 200, the cathode plate 230, the anode plate 220, the proton exchange membrane 210, the gasket 260, the elastic plate 240, the diffusion layer 270 and other components are arranged according to the above-mentioned positional relationship to form a multi-layer structure, and then the multi-layer structure is integrally placed inside the accommodation box 280. The layer arrangement direction of the multi-layer structure coincides with the height direction of the accommodation box 280. In this embodiment, the multilayer structure inside the housing box 280 is, from top to bottom: a spring plate 240, a gasket 260, a cathode plate 230, a gasket 260, a diffusion layer 270, a proton exchange membrane 210, a diffusion layer 270, a gasket 260, an anode plate 220, a gasket 260, and a spring plate 240. When the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly 200 is installed, the assembled electrolytic oxygen removal assembly 200 is inserted entirely into the opening of the inner container 430, and when the containment box 280 is inserted entirely into the interior of the inner container 430, the installation of the electrolytic oxygen removal assembly 200 is completed. If the user does not need the oxygen removal function of the storage compartment, the entire storage case 280 may be removed.
The refrigerator of the present embodiment includes: electrolytic oxygen scavenging assembly 200. The electrolytic oxygen scavenging assembly 200 is used to deplete the air in the storage compartment to obtain a nitrogen-rich and oxygen-lean atmosphere in the space that facilitates the preservation of food. The gas atmosphere reduces the oxygen content in the storage room, reduces the strength of aerobic respiration of food (especially fruits and vegetables), ensures the basic respiration, and prevents the food from anaerobic respiration, thereby achieving the purpose of long-term fresh-keeping of the food.
It should be understood by those skilled in the art that, without being particularly described, terms used for indicating orientation or positional relationship such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "rear", and the like in the embodiments of the present invention are based on the actual use state of the refrigerator, and these terms are only used for convenience of description and understanding of the technical solution of the present invention, and do not indicate or imply that the referred device or component must have a specific orientation, and thus, should not be construed as limiting the present invention.
Thus, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that while a number of exemplary embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail herein, many other variations or modifications consistent with the principles of the invention may be directly determined or derived from the disclosure of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be understood and interpreted to cover all such other variations or modifications.