CN111380292B

CN111380292B - Air-cooled refrigerator and sterilization method thereof

Info

Publication number: CN111380292B
Application number: CN201811628589.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李春阳; 朱小兵; 王铭; 苗建林
Original assignee: Haier Smart Home Co Ltd
Current assignee: Haier Smart Home Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-12-28
Filing date: 2018-12-28
Publication date: 2022-11-18
Anticipated expiration: 2038-12-28
Also published as: CN111380292A

Abstract

The invention provides an air-cooled refrigerator and a sterilization method thereof, wherein a sterilization device is arranged in the air-cooled refrigerator, the sterilization device is configured to have an excitation state and a preparation state for releasing sterilization ions, and the method further comprises the following steps: acquiring a starting signal for triggering the sterilization device to start; detecting the environmental temperature of the working environment of the air-cooled refrigerator; correcting the periodic parameters of the sterilization device according to the environment temperature, wherein the periodic parameters comprise the time length of the sterilization device working in an excitation state and the time length of the sterilization device working in a preparation state in the circulation period of the sterilization device; and controlling the sterilizing device to circularly operate according to the corrected periodic parameters. The scheme of the invention aims at the characteristics of the sterilization device, and corrects the periodic parameters of the sterilization device after the sterilization device is started each time, thereby ensuring that the operation of the sterilization device is suitable for the working environment condition of the air-cooled refrigerator and ensuring the sterilization effect.

Description

Air-cooled refrigerator and sterilization method thereof

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of refrigeration equipment, in particular to an air-cooled refrigerator and a sterilization method thereof.

Background

The refrigerator is a common household appliance, and the freshness date of food is prolonged by refrigerating and freezing. In order to ensure the refrigerating and freezing effect, the refrigerator body is required to have good sealing performance.

However, if food is stored in the sealed environment for a long period of time, particularly for fresh vegetables placed in a cold storage compartment, the water loss stimulates the fruits and vegetables to release ethylene, which promotes chloroplast disintegration, tissue cell membrane deterioration, and decreased storage and disease resistance. On the other hand, under the temperature condition of the refrigerating chamber, some bacteria still can live and breed, thereby constituting a threat to the food in the refrigerating chamber and causing the food in the refrigerating chamber to decay and deteriorate.

Particularly for air-cooled refrigerators, the supply airflow may carry bacteria within the storage compartment and spread these bacteria throughout the refrigerator. Bacteria may multiply in places such as wind tunnels where the user cannot see the difficult clean up. This seriously affects the safety of the storage environment of the refrigerator, resulting in a great increase in the rate of deterioration of the stored goods.

Although some sterilization devices for refrigerators appear in the prior art, the operation reliability of the sterilization device is poor due to the low-temperature and humid environment inside the refrigerator, and the use requirements of users cannot be met.

Disclosure of Invention

One object of the present invention is to provide a sterilization method for an air-cooled refrigerator, which enables a sterilization apparatus to meet the requirement of reliable operation in a low-temperature and humid environment inside the refrigerator.

Another object of the present invention is to improve the sterilizing effect of an air-cooled refrigerator.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sterilization method for an air-cooled refrigerator, wherein a sterilization device is disposed in the air-cooled refrigerator, the sterilization device is configured to have an activated state and a standby state for releasing sterilization ions, and the method further comprises: acquiring a starting signal for triggering the sterilization device to start; detecting the environmental temperature of the working environment of the air-cooled refrigerator; correcting cycle parameters of the sterilization device according to the environment temperature, wherein the cycle parameters comprise the time length of the sterilization device working in an excitation state and the time length of the sterilization device working in a preparation state in a cycle of the sterilization device; and controlling the sterilizing device to circularly operate according to the corrected periodic parameters.

Optionally, the step of modifying the period parameter includes: acquiring default cycle parameters preset by a sterilization device; and modifying the default period parameter according to the ambient temperature to obtain a modified period parameter, so that the duration of the excitation state and/or the duration of the preparation state are prolonged along with the rise of the ambient temperature.

Optionally, the starting signal is an indication signal for starting a fan of a refrigeration system of the air-cooled refrigerator; and after controlling the sterilizing device to cyclically operate with the modified periodic parameters, the method further comprises the following steps: counting the circulation times and detecting the running state of the refrigeration system; and after the occurrence cycle number reaches a preset number threshold or the refrigeration system is determined to be closed, closing the sterilization device.

Optionally, the sterilization device includes a voltage boost circuit and an ionizer, and in the excited state, the voltage boost circuit is controlled to convert the input power into a first voltage, so that the ionizer is excited by the first voltage to be ionized to release the sterilization ions.

Alternatively, in the standby state, the supply of the input power to the booster circuit is stopped, and the ionizer is suspended.

Alternatively, in the stand-by state, the booster circuit is controlled to convert the input power supply into the second voltage, and the ionizer is caused to generate heat at the second voltage.

Optionally, the step of acquiring an activation signal for triggering activation of the sterilization device further includes: controlling the booster circuit to output a second voltage and continuously preheating for a time; and after the preheating is finished, executing the step of controlling the sterilization device to circularly operate according to the corrected periodic parameters.

Optionally, the effective value of the first voltage ranges from 2000 to 5000V; the effective value of the second voltage ranges from 1000 to 1800V.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided an air-cooled refrigerator including: the box body defines a storage chamber; the air supply duct is used for providing refrigerating airflow to the storage compartment; the sterilizing device is used for releasing sterilizing ions; the controller comprises a memory and a processor, wherein a control program is stored in the memory, and the control program is used for the sterilization method of the air-cooled refrigerator when being executed by the processor.

Optionally, the sterilization device comprises: the ion generator is arranged in the air supply duct and is excited by the first voltage to ionize so as to release sterilizing ions.

According to the air-cooled refrigerator and the sterilization method thereof, sterilization ions are released in an ionization excitation mode, a sterilization preparation does not need to be replaced, the air-cooled refrigerator can be reliably used for a long time, and the operation period of alternate circulation of an excitation state and a preparation state is provided aiming at the characteristics of a sterilization device, so that the sterilization device can reliably work in a low-temperature, moist and closed application environment of the refrigerator.

Furthermore, according to the air-cooled refrigerator and the sterilization method thereof, the periodic parameters of the sterilization device are corrected after the sterilization device is started each time, the condition that the operation of the sterilization device is suitable for the working environment condition of the air-cooled refrigerator is ensured, and the sterilization effect is ensured.

Furthermore, the air-cooled refrigerator and the control method of the sterilization device thereof improve the starting condition and the stopping condition of the sterilization device, so that the sterilization device can sterilize when in refrigeration starting, and the sterilization ions are transmitted by utilizing the air flow to improve the sterilization effect.

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.

Drawings

Some specific embodiments of the invention will be described in detail hereinafter by way of example and not by way of limitation with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in the drawings identify the same or similar elements or components. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the drawings:

fig. 1 is a schematic partial structural view of an air-cooled refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is an electrical configuration block diagram of an air-cooled refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a schematic structural view of a sterilization apparatus of an air-cooled refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 is a circuit block diagram of a sterilization apparatus of an air-cooled refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a schematic circuit diagram of a sterilization apparatus of an air-cooled refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic exploded view of a duct assembly in an air-cooled refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of airflow in an air-cooled refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 8 is a schematic view of a sterilization method of an air-cooled refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

fig. 9 is a flowchart of a sterilization method of an air-cooled refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

FIG. 1 is a schematic partial block diagram of an air-cooled refrigerator 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention; fig. 2 is an electrical configuration block diagram of the air-cooled refrigerator 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The cabinet 210 of the air-cooled refrigerator 10 of the present embodiment may include a case made of a steel plate having an open front, an inner container made of a synthetic resin and provided in an inner space of the case and having an open front, and a heat insulating material made of a foamed polyurethane, which is filled and foamed in a gap between the case and the inner container. A storage compartment 220 for storing food or other articles, etc. is formed in the case 210. The interior of the case 210 may be partitioned into one or more storage compartments 220 according to preservation temperature and usage, and may include, for example, a refrigerating compartment, a freezing compartment, a temperature-changing compartment, and the like. The refrigeration system 310 may be a conventional compression refrigeration system that provides refrigeration to the storage compartment 220 in an air-cooled manner to provide the storage compartment 220 with a desired storage temperature. In some embodiments, the preservation temperature of the refrigerator cold room may be 2 to 9 ℃, or may be 4 to 7 ℃; the storage temperature of the freezing chamber can be-22 to-14 ℃, or can be-20 to 16 ℃. The freezing chamber is arranged below the refrigerating chamber, and the temperature-changing chamber is arranged between the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber. The temperature in the freezer compartment is typically in the range of-14 ℃ to-22 ℃. The temperature-changing chamber can be adjusted according to the requirements so as to store proper food.

The refrigeration system 310 may be a refrigeration cycle system composed of a compressor, a condenser, a throttle device, an evaporator, and the like. The evaporator is configured to directly or indirectly supply cooling energy into the storage space. The back of the box body 210 is also provided with an evaporator chamber which is communicated with the storage compartment 220 through a supply air duct 230, an evaporator is arranged in the evaporator chamber, a fan 320 is arranged at an outlet of the evaporator chamber to circularly refrigerate the storage compartment 220, and air flow enters the storage compartment 220 from a supply air inlet 221 and returns to the evaporator chamber from an air return inlet 222. The supply air duct 230 is used to supply a cooling air flow to the storage compartment 220. Since such refrigeration systems themselves are well known and readily implemented by those skilled in the art, the refrigeration system 310 itself will not be described in further detail herein so as not to obscure or obscure the inventive aspects of the present application.

The sterilization device 100 is used for releasing sterilization ions into the inner space of the box 210, and may include a voltage boost circuit 112 and an ion generator 121, wherein the ion generator 121 is used for releasing sterilization ions, and the voltage boost circuit 112 is used for providing the ion generator 121 with the required electric energy.

The controller 330 may include a memory 332 and a processor 331, wherein the memory 332 stores a control program 333, and the control program 333 is executed by the processor 331 to implement the sterilization method of the air-cooled refrigerator of the embodiment. The controller 330, as a control core of the air-cooled refrigerator 10 of this embodiment, can be implemented by configuring a corresponding control program 333 through the memory 332, the processor 331 (including a single chip, a digital signal processor, etc.) and its accessory circuits (a power supply, a clock circuit, etc.).

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the air-cooled refrigerator 10 of the present invention is not limited to a refrigerator having a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber in a general sense for storing food, but may be other devices having a refrigerating function, such as a wine cabinet, a refrigerating tank, etc.

Fig. 3 is a schematic structural view of the sterilization apparatus 100 of the air-cooled refrigerator 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a circuit block diagram of the sterilization apparatus 100 of the air-cooled refrigerator 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a schematic circuit diagram of the sterilization apparatus 100 of the air-cooled refrigerator 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The sterilization apparatus 100 of the present embodiment may include: a first module 110, a second module 120, a connection cable 130. Wherein the first module 110 has a voltage boost circuit 112 therein, and the second module 120 includes an ionizer 121. A connecting cable 130 connects the first module 110 and the second module 120 such that the first module 110 controls an ionizer 121 to ionize air to generate odor removing and sanitizing substances (sanitizing ions). Since the first module 110 is separated from the second module 120, the first module 110 is far away from the air in the storage compartment 220 or the air duct 230, so that the damage and the failure of the first module 110 caused by the cooled air or the high-humidity environment in the refrigerator can be prevented, especially the moisture in the cooled air is prevented from entering the first module 110, and the service life of the sterilization device 100 is remarkably prolonged.

The first module 110 may be provided therein with a power input interface 111, a voltage boost circuit 112, and a high voltage output interface 113. The power input interface 111 is used for connecting an externally provided dc power supply, which may be a control power supply of the air-cooled refrigerator 10, for example, a dc power of 5V or 12V. When the power input interface 111 is connected to a dc power supply, the booster circuit 112 starts operating.

The voltage boost circuit 112 is used for controllably converting the direct-current power supply into a first voltage for generating sterilizing ions and a second voltage for heating, wherein the first voltage is higher than the second voltage; when the input power supply stops supplying power to the booster circuit 112, the booster circuit 112 stops operating. The boost circuit 112 may include an inverter to controllably invert the direct-current power supply into a high-voltage alternating current whose voltage is a first voltage or a second voltage. The inverter has three working states, and is used for inverting a first voltage, a second voltage and stopping working respectively. The boost circuit 112 may further include auxiliary circuits such as a boost transformer and a protection circuit, etc., since the circuit structure of the inverter, the boost transformer, the protection circuit, etc. are well known to those skilled in the art, and are not described in detail in the description of the embodiment.

The voltage values of the first voltage and the second voltage may be set according to the specification of the ionizer 121, where the first voltage satisfies the excitation ionization requirement of the ionizer 121 and the second voltage may cause the electrodes of the ionizer 121 to generate heat. For example, in a specific ionizer 121 of this embodiment, the effective value of the first voltage ranges from 2000V to 5000V, and further may preferably range from 2800V to 4000V, for example, about 3500V; the effective value of the second voltage ranges from 1000 to 1800V, more preferably from 1200V to 1600V, for example, about 1500V.

The high voltage output interface 113 is used for outputting the first voltage, the second voltage, or suspending the output.

The cable 130 is connected to the high voltage output interface 113 of the first module 110 to transmit the first voltage and the second voltage to the ionizer 121. The connection cable 130 may include two cables, and the connection cable 130 has an insulating layer capable of securing insulation of the first voltage and the second voltage. In order to ensure reliable transmission of the high first voltage and the high second voltage and reduce the line loss, the length of the connection cable 130 is required to be not too long and to extend from the arrangement position of the first module 110 to the second module 120. Generally the length of the connection cable 130 is required to be shorter than 100cm, preferably shorter than 30cm.

The first module 110 is also provided with a voltage feedback port 141. The voltage feedback port 141 is connected to the voltage boosting circuit 112, and is configured to output a feedback voltage corresponding to the first voltage or the second voltage to indicate a boosted state of the voltage boosting circuit 112. The boosting circuit 112 may feed back its operation state to the voltage feedback port 141, and the boosting circuit 112 outputs a feedback signal corresponding to the output voltage through the voltage feedback port, the level of the feedback signal corresponding to the magnitude of the output voltage, so that a relatively high level is output when the first voltage is output and a relatively low level is output when the second voltage is output. And the specific level can reflect the magnitude of the output voltage. So that whether the first voltage or the second voltage is normal can be known through the feedback signal. In determining the state of the boost circuit 112, the feedback signal may be compared to predetermined normal power supply thresholds (including a second voltage threshold range corresponding to the second voltage, a first voltage threshold range corresponding to the first voltage).

The voltage feedback port 141 may be integrated with the power input interface 111 as an input, for example, on a multi-port connector. The first module 110 may further include a controlled terminal 142, wherein the controlled terminal 142 is connected to the voltage boosting circuit 112 and configured to receive an external control signal (the control signal may be a control signal sent by the controller 330 for adjusting the operating state of the sterilization apparatus 100 according to the operating condition of the air-cooled refrigerator 10), so that the voltage boosting circuit 112 converts the first voltage or the second voltage according to the control signal.

The input terminal of the first module 110 may be a four-terminal interface (the four terminals are the positive and negative poles of the dc power supply, the voltage feedback port 141, and the controlled terminal 142). The input terminal may be connected to an electronic control board on which the controller 330 is located through a cable, so as to receive a control signal of the controller 330 and return a feedback signal thereto.

The sterilization apparatus 100 may also be connected to a current detection apparatus 150. The current detection means 150 is configured to detect a value of the current supplied to the power input interface 111 for determining an operation state of the sterilization apparatus 100, i.e. the current detection means 150 is used to detect the input current of the voltage boost circuit 112. The current detection device 150 may be included in series with a power line supplying power to the power input interface 111. It is also possible to determine whether the sterilization apparatus 100 is operating normally using the detection current of the current detection apparatus 150.

The first module 110 can be disposed within an electronic control box that can be used to define a closed receiving cavity in which the first module 110 is mounted.

The ionizer 121 is configured to be excited to ionize by a first voltage to release sterilizing ions, and to heat at a second voltage to eliminate condensation. Ionizer 121 may include an ionizing head 122. The ionization head 122 is arranged with a first electrode 123 and a second electrode 124 connected to a connection cable 130, the first electrode 123 and the second electrode 124 having a discharge gap therebetween, the discharge gap being configured to be broken down by a first voltage such that ambient air is excited to ionize; and at a second voltage to keep the first electrode 123 isolated from the second electrode 124 and each generating heat.

The ionizer 121 may further include a base forming a mounting cavity for mounting the ionization head 122, the mounting cavity having an opening at one side; and the ionization head 122 is installed such that the discharge gap is exposed to the opening.

The ion generator 121 of the sterilization device 100 may be directly disposed in the storage compartment 220 or disposed in the air supply duct 230. The sterilization apparatus 100 may be used to sterilize a target sterilization compartment of the air-cooled refrigerator 10, or may be used to sterilize the entire interior of the air-cooled refrigerator 10. The sterilization apparatus 100 may be preferably disposed in the supply air duct 230 that supplies air to the target sterilization compartment 220. The first module 110 can be arranged in a foaming layer or other sealing areas of the refrigerator, so that the first module is ensured to be isolated from a humid environment, and the reliability is improved.

Fig. 6 is a schematic exploded view of the air duct assembly in the air-cooled refrigerator 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 7 is a schematic view of airflow flowing in the air-cooled refrigerator 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The air supply duct 230 is provided therein with a housing space 226, and the housing space 226 is located outside each air supply duct 230. The first module 110 is disposed in the accommodating space 226. The second module 120 is disposed in an air duct 230. The connection cable 130 electrically connects the first module 110 and the second module 120. The first module 110 controls the second module 120 through the connection cable 130 so that the ionizer 121 ionizes air to generate sterilizing ions.

The sterilizing ions can enter the target sterilizing compartment 220 from the air supply opening 221 along with the refrigerating air, the diffusion speed is high, the sterilizing ions are uniformly distributed in the storage compartment 220 along with the air flow, and part of the sterilizing ions can also return to the air duct 230 from the air return opening 222, so that the sterilizing ions are uniformly distributed in the storage compartment 220 and the air duct 230. The first module 110 is disposed separately from the second module 120, and the first module 110 is disposed outside the air duct 230, so that the damage and failure of the first module 110 caused by the cooled air or the high-humidity environment in the air-cooled refrigerator 10 can be prevented, and particularly, the moisture in the cooled air is prevented from entering the first module 110. The first module 110 does not occupy the space of the air supply duct 230, so that the air supply duct 230 supplies air smoothly.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the generated bactericidal ions of the ionizer 121 include at least one of singlet reactive oxygen, superoxide radicals, peroxy radicals, oxyanions, hydroxyl radicals, ozone, and hydrogen peroxide.

The connecting cable 130 is installed in a wire slot formed in the air duct assembly. The duct cover 223 is mounted to the front side of the duct foam 225. The wire slot is obliquely arranged, and the second module 120 is arranged below the first module 110, so as to prevent condensed water and the like from entering the first module 110 along the wire slot as much as possible.

The first module 110 can be installed at an angle of inclination of at least 7 degrees from the horizontal to remove water tension, thereby preventing water drops from entering the inside. The water blocking component 224 is arranged at the front side of the containing space 226 and the wire slot, and when the air duct is installed, PE cotton can be attached to the rear surfaces of the first module 110 and the second module 120 for pre-fixing, and then the air duct cover plate 223 can be installed. PE cotton may also be attached to the entire outer surface of the first module 110.

In the air-cooled refrigerator 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, high-energy and high-activity radicals such as atomic oxygen (O) and hydroxyl (OH —) are generated by bombardment and excitation of high-energy electrons generated by high-voltage discharge. The high-energy active free radicals directly and frequently and directly collide with the odor gas molecules, when the energy obtained by the odor gas molecules is larger than the binding energy of the molecular bond energy of the odor gas molecules, the original molecular structure of the odor gas molecules is destroyed, the molecular chemical bond is opened, the gaseous reaction is promoted to be rapidly carried out, and radicals and solid particles are generated.

In addition, high-voltage discharge can ionize and decompose partial odor gas molecules at the same time. Under the action of the above principle, the sterilization device 100 is placed in the air duct 230, and sterilization ions are transferred into the storage compartments 220 of the air-cooled refrigerator 10 through the circulation of the air duct, so as to achieve the effect of fully distributing the inside of the air-cooled refrigerator 10 and deodorizing and sterilizing the compartments of the air-cooled refrigerator 10. And prevents moisture from condensing on the first module 110 of the sterilizing device 100 by means of an effective placement and sealing means, while allowing condensed water to be drained away even if condensation accumulates.

The air-cooled refrigerator 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include an ambient temperature sensor (not shown in the figure) for detecting an ambient temperature of an environment where the air-cooled refrigerator 10 is located. Since the ambient temperature directly affects the operation conditions of the air-cooled refrigerator 10, such as the cooling time, the storage information of food, the required concentration of bactericidal ions, and so on. Therefore, the air-cooled refrigerator 10 of the present embodiment also corrects the cycle of the sterilization device according to the ambient temperature, and further ensures the sterilization effect of the sterilization device 100.

The present embodiment further provides a sterilization method for an air-cooled refrigerator, which may be executed by the controller 330 of the air-cooled refrigerator 10 according to the above embodiment, and fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of the sterilization method for the air-cooled refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the control method further includes:

step S802, acquiring a starting signal for triggering the sterilization device 100 to start; the activation signal may be determined by detecting an operating condition of the refrigeration system 310 of the air-cooled refrigerator 10. For example, step S802 may include: detecting an operation state of a fan 320 of the refrigeration system 310; when the fan 320 is started and the rotation speed reaches the set rotation speed range, it is determined that the refrigeration system 310 is stably operated. Other means of determining stable operation of the fan 320 include: the rotational speed or voltage of the fan 320 is detected. When the fan 320 is in a stable operation state, the sterilization ions can be ensured to be rapidly diffused, and the local concentration is prevented from being too high. That is, the sterilization apparatus 100 may be started following the start of the blower 320, and may perform the entire sterilization of the inside of the air-cooled refrigerator 10 by using the airflow to transmit the sterilization ions.

Step S804, detecting an ambient temperature of the working environment of the air-cooled refrigerator 10; the environmental temperature reflects the temperature of the environment around the air-cooled refrigerator 10, which directly affects the cooling time of the air-cooled refrigerator 10 and also affects the concentration of the sterilizing ions required.

Step S806, modifying the period parameter of the sterilization apparatus 100 according to the environmental temperature, wherein the period parameter includes a duration of the sterilization apparatus working in the activated state and a duration of the sterilization apparatus working in the preparation state in the cycle period of the sterilization apparatus 100;

in the excited state, the control voltage boost circuit 112 converts the input power into a first voltage, so that the ionizer 121 is excited by the first voltage to be ionized to release sterilizing ions. Since the first voltage excites the sterilizing ions vigorously, so that a high concentration of sterilizing ions can be ionized in a short time, and in order to facilitate the diffusion of the sterilizing ions and protect the sterilizing apparatus 100, it is necessary to put the sterilizing apparatus into a standby state after the excitation.

In the standby state, the boost circuit 112 may be controlled to convert the input power into the second voltage, so that the ionizer 121 generates heat at the second voltage. Alternatively, in the standby state, the supply of the input power to the booster circuit 112 may be stopped, and the ionizer 121 may be suspended. The selection of the preparation state can be determined according to the specification and the use state of the sterilizer 100. In general, during the start-up of the sterilization apparatus 100, the refrigeration system 310 is started, and a state in which the second voltage is output by the booster circuit 112 may be selected to avoid condensation.

The step of correcting the cycle parameter in step S806 includes: acquiring default cycle parameters preset by a sterilization device; the default duration of the phase of the excitation state in each operating cycle may be 500ms to 2s, for example 1s; and the default duration of the preparatory phase may be 20s to 200s, for example 70 to 80s, per operating cycle. And then modifying the default period parameter according to the environment temperature to obtain a modified period parameter, so that the duration of the excitation state and/or the duration of the preparation state are/is prolonged along with the rise of the environment temperature.

The initial duration of the excitation state and the initial duration of the preparation state may be pre-configured according to the actual working conditions of the sterilization apparatus 100.

In step S808, the sterilization apparatus 100 is controlled to operate cyclically according to the modified cycle parameter. That is, the operation process of the sterilization apparatus 100 is a cycle process of excitation (first voltage), preparation (second voltage), excitation (first voltage) - \8230;, which is completed according to the corrected period parameters.

Before step S802, the step-up circuit 112 may also be controlled to output the second voltage for the preheating time first; after the warm-up is completed, step S808 is performed again. That is, after the sterilization device 100 is started, preheating is performed to eliminate at least part of condensation, so that the reliability of subsequent cycle operation is improved.

When the sterilization stop condition set during the normal operation of the sterilization apparatus 100 can be satisfied, the boosting circuit 112 may be controlled to be turned off. One sterilization stop condition is: detecting the operation state of the refrigeration system 310 of the air-cooled refrigerator 110; after the fan 320 of the refrigeration system 310 is turned off, the boost circuit 112 is controlled to be turned off, and the abnormal times are cleared, that is, the sterilization apparatus 100 is turned off following the turning off of the fan 320.

Another sterilization stop condition is: counting the number of times the ion generator 121 releases sterilizing ions; after the number of times of excitation of the ionizer 121 exceeds the preset number threshold, the booster circuit 112 is controlled to be turned off, and the abnormal number and the number of times of excitation are cleared to wait for the next start. Namely, the cycle number of the operation period is counted; after the number of times of activation reaches the preset number threshold, the sterilization apparatus 100 is turned off until the next activation signal is received (since the ionizer 121 is activated once per one operation period, the number of cycles should be equal to the number of times of activation).

The two sterilization stop conditions can be used simultaneously, for example, after the cycle number is over-limit, the fan 320 is still started, and the stop work is completed by the excitation number; if the sterilization time is not reached and the cooling target is completed and the blower 320 is turned off, the sterilization apparatus 100 is turned off by a signal that the blower 320 is turned off.

The sterilization method of the air-cooled refrigerator of the embodiment ensures that the concentration of the released sterilization ions of the sterilization device 100 can ensure the sterilization effect under the condition of the environmental temperature by prolonging the duration of the excitation state and/or the duration of the preparation state along with the rise of the environmental temperature.

The sterilization method for the air-cooled refrigerator in the above embodiment provides an operation period in which the activated state and the ready state are alternately circulated, so that the sterilization apparatus 100 can reliably operate in a low-temperature, moisture-sealed application environment of the refrigerator 10. And the sterilization effect of the sterilization apparatus 100 can be ensured by the above-described correction of the cycle period.

Fig. 9 is a flowchart of a sterilization method of an air-cooled refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. The process comprises the following steps:

step S902, whether the refrigeration system 310 is started;

step S904, after the refrigeration system 310 is started, the sterilization device 100 is preheated for a second, for example, the boost circuit 112 may output the second voltage to heat the ionizer 121 for a second;

step S906, detecting an ambient temperature AT of the working environment of the air-cooled refrigerator 10;

step S908, correcting the cycle parameters of the sterilization apparatus: b = B0 AT K; c = C0 AT K, where B is a corrected duration of operation in the excited state, and B0 is a duration of operation in the excited state of the default period; c is the corrected duration of working in the preparation state, and C0 is the duration of working in the preparation state in the default period; k1 and K2 are respectively a preset excitation duration correction constant and a preset preparation duration correction constant; the duration of the active state and the duration of the standby state may be extended by the modification as the ambient temperature increases, and since the duration of the standby state is significantly longer than the duration of the active state, in some embodiments only the duration of the standby state may be modified, while the duration of the active state always uses the default value.

Step S910, the sterilization apparatus 100 is operated cyclically with the modified periodic parameter, and the sterilization apparatus 100 is first activated for B seconds, for example, the voltage boost circuit 112 may output the first voltage to make the ion generator 121 release the sterilization ions for B seconds;

step S912, after the excitation state is completed, the sterilization apparatus 100 enters the standby state for C seconds, for example, the voltage boost circuit 112 may output the second voltage or the voltage boost circuit 112 may suspend outputting, and the ion generator 121 may release the sterilization ions for C seconds or suspend for C seconds;

step S914, accumulating the cycle number n, that is, n = n +1;

step S916, determining whether the cycle number n is smaller than a preset number threshold m, if not, determining that the cycle number has reached the required number, and skipping to step S920;

step S918, determining whether cooling is finished;

step S920, clearing the cycle number n, and turning off the sterilization apparatus 100 to wait for the next start-up.

The threshold m of the number of the cycle times, the initial duration C0 of the preparation state, and the initial durations B0, K1, and K2 of the activation state are all parameters that can be set according to the actual conditions of the sterilization apparatus 100 and the air-cooled refrigerator 10.

Further, according to the air-cooled refrigerator 10 and the control method of the sterilization device 100 of the air-cooled refrigerator 10, the cycle parameters of the sterilization device 100 are corrected after the sterilization device 100 is started each time, so that the operation of the sterilization device 100 is ensured to be suitable for the working environment condition of the air-cooled refrigerator 10, and the sterilization effect is ensured.

Thus, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that while various exemplary embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail herein, many other variations or modifications which are consistent with the principles of this invention may be determined or derived directly 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.

Claims

1. A method of sterilizing an air-cooled refrigerator having a sterilizing device disposed therein, the sterilizing device configured to have an activated state and a ready state for releasing sterilizing ions, the method further comprising:

acquiring a starting signal for triggering the sterilization device to start;

detecting the environment temperature of the working environment of the air-cooled refrigerator;

correcting cycle parameters of the sterilization device according to the environment temperature, wherein the cycle parameters comprise the time length of the sterilization device working in the excitation state and the time length of the sterilization device working in the preparation state in the cycle period of the sterilization device;

controlling the sterilizing device to circularly operate according to the modified periodic parameters;

the step of modifying the cycle parameter comprises:

acquiring default cycle parameters preset by the sterilization device;

modifying the default period parameter according to the environment temperature to obtain the modified period parameter, so that the duration of the excitation state and the duration of the preparation state are prolonged along with the rise of the environment temperature;

the sterilization device comprises a booster circuit and an ion generator,

under the excitation state, the booster circuit is controlled to convert an input power supply into a first voltage, so that the ion generator is excited and ionized by the first voltage to release bactericidal ions;

in the standby state, the booster circuit is controlled to convert the input power supply into a second voltage, and the ionizer generates heat under the second voltage.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein,

the starting signal is an indication signal for starting a fan of a refrigerating system of the air-cooled refrigerator; and after controlling the sterilizing device to cyclically operate with the modified periodic parameters, the method further comprises the following steps:

counting the number of cycles and detecting the operation state of the refrigeration system;

and after the cycle times reach a preset time threshold value or the refrigeration system is determined to be closed, closing the sterilization device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining an activation signal that triggers activation of the germicidal device is further followed by:

controlling the booster circuit to output the second voltage and keep preheating time; and after the preheating is finished, executing the step of controlling the sterilization device to circularly operate according to the corrected periodic parameters.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein,

the value range of the effective value of the first voltage is 2000-5000V;

the effective value of the second voltage ranges from 1000V to 1800V.

5. An air-cooled refrigerator comprising:

the box body defines a storage chamber;

the air supply duct is used for providing refrigerating airflow to the storage compartment;

the sterilizing device is used for releasing sterilizing ions;

a controller comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a control program, and the control program is used for implementing the sterilization method of the air-cooled refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4 when being executed by the processor.

6. The air-cooled refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the sterilizing device comprises:

a boost circuit controlled to convert an input power into a first voltage and a second voltage lower than the first voltage,

and the ion generator is arranged in the air supply duct and is excited by the first voltage to ionize so as to release sterilizing ions.