EP4729863A1

EP4729863A1 - Refrigerator, and control method and apparatus for refrigerator

Info

Publication number: EP4729863A1
Application number: EP24822729.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jian Ma; Xiaobing Zhu; Zhenxing ZHANG; Hao Zhang; Haoquan LIU; Zhanpeng CUI; Hao Sun; Guohua Wang
Original assignee: Qingdao Haier Refrigerator Co Ltd; Qingdao Haier Smart Technology R&D Co Ltd; Haier Smart Home Co Ltd
Current assignee: Qingdao Haier Refrigerator Co Ltd; Qingdao Haier Smart Technology R&D Co Ltd; Haier Smart Home Co Ltd
Priority date: 2023-06-13
Filing date: 2024-06-13
Publication date: 2026-04-22
Also published as: WO2024255780A1; AU2024301866A1

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of refrigeration devices, and discloses a refrigerator, comprising a liner, at least provided with a plurality of air ports; and a drawer assembly, arranged in the liner, the drawer assembly comprising a drawer cover plate and a drawer body which are slidably connected to each other, the drawer cover plate being provided with a moisture-permeable assembly, the top of the drawer assembly being provided with a first vent part and a second vent part opposite to each other, airflow blown out from at least one air port flowing into the drawer body through the first vent part and flowing out through the second vent part, wherein the airflow flowing into the drawer body forms an auxiliary air path on the lower surface of the drawer cover plate, and the auxiliary air path is used for preventing frost from forming on the lower surface of the moisture-permeable assembly. The present application further discloses a control method and apparatus for a refrigerator.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure claims priority of Chinese patent applications: Application No. 202310701625.X, Filing Date: June 13, 2023 , Application No. 202321508606.7 Filing Date: June 13, 2023 , and Application No. 202310701635.3, Filing Date: June 13, 2023 , the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of refrigeration, for example, to a refrigerator, and a control method and device for a refrigerator.

BACKGROUND

With the upgrading of the refrigerator consumer market, high-end and large-sized refrigerators are increasingly favored by consumers. However, as the volumes of refrigerators increase, consumers have put forward new demands for food storage and preservation, specifically requesting the addition of drawers with frozen and moisture-retaining functions in refrigerated compartments to meet the high-humidity storage requirements for items such as meat rolls, ready-to-eat foods, and pre-prepared meals. These drawers with frozen and moisture-retaining functions can prevent cold air from directly blowing onto food during the refrigeration process and feature a humidity-controlled moisture-permeable membrane component that maintains food in a high-humidity environment, thereby effectively preventing phenomena such as food dehydration that lead to nutritional loss.
However, in related technologies, moisture-retaining drawers with food preservation functions can only be used in refrigerated compartments of a refrigerator. If existing moisture-retaining drawers are directly applied to freezer compartments, frost will form on the top of the drawers, affecting the moisture-permeable effect of the permeable component and consequently influencing the humidity inside the drawers.

SUMMARY

To provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed embodiments, a brief summary is provided below. This summary is not intended as a general overview, nor to determine key/important components or delineate the scope of protection of these embodiments, but rather serves as a preface to the following detailed description.
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a refrigerator, and a control method and device for a refrigerator, which can not only adjust the humidity inside a drawer but also reduce the frosting amount of a moisture-permeable component at the top of the drawer, ensuring the moisture-retaining and preservation effect of food.
In some embodiments, the refrigerator includes: an inner liner, having at least a plurality of air vents; and a drawer assembly, disposed in the inner liner. The drawer assembly includes a drawer cover and a drawer body that are slidably connected, the drawer cover is provided with a moisture-permeable component, and the top of the drawer assembly is provided with a first ventilation portion and a second ventilation portion that are arranged opposite to each other. Airflow blown from at least one air vent flows into the drawer body through the first ventilation portion and flows out from the second ventilation portion. The airflow flowing into the drawer body forms an auxiliary air path on a lower surface of the drawer cover, and the auxiliary air path is configured to prevent frosting on the lower surface of the moisture-permeable component.
In some embodiments, the control method for the refrigerator includes: the refrigerator further includes a main fan, a first air vent of the inner liner is located above the drawer assembly, and airflow blown from the main fan through the first air vent forms a main air path above the drawer assembly; and a second air vent of the inner liner corresponds to the drawer assembly, and airflow blown from the main fan through the second air vent is configured to form an auxiliary air path within the drawer assembly or to accelerate an airflow velocity of the auxiliary air path.
The control method includes: acquiring a temperature value inside the drawer assembly when both the first air vent and the second air vent are open for blowing air; acquiring a humidity value inside the drawer assembly when the temperature value of the drawer assembly is higher than a shutdown temperature of the refrigerator, and controlling the second air vent to be open or closed according to a comparison between the humidity value of the drawer assembly and a first humidity threshold; and controlling the main fan to be turned off when the temperature value of the drawer assembly is lower than or equal to the shutdown temperature of the refrigerator.
In some embodiments, the control device for the refrigerator includes a processor and a memory storing program instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the control method for the refrigerator as provided in the foregoing embodiments.
The above general description and the descriptions below are merely exemplary and explanatory, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative descriptions are made to one or more embodiments by corresponding accompanying drawings. These illustrative descriptions and the accompanying drawings are not intended to limit the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the accompanying drawings represent similar elements. The accompanying drawings are not to scale, and in the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a sectional schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a drawer assembly and an inner liner provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of the drawer assembly provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 4 is a sectional schematic structural diagram of another embodiment of a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of another embodiment of a drawer assembly and an inner liner provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 6 is an assembly view of a damper assembly, a second damper, and the inner liner provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the damper assembly, the second damper, and the inner liner provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 8 is a partial view of the damper assembly opening the second damper at a position A in FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a partial view of the damper assembly closing a second air vent provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 10 is a partial exploded view of a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the refrigerator from another perspective provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a circulating air path provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a circulating air path provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 14 is an exploded view of a moisture-permeable component provided in an embodiment of of the present disclosure.
FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the moisture-permeable component provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 16 is a schematic structural diagram of a water vapor guiding surface, the condensed water diversion surface, and a water-stopping step provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the moisture-permeable component from another perspective provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 18 is an exploded view of another embodiment of a moisture-permeable component provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 19 is a sectional view of another embodiment of a moisture-permeable component provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 20 is a line chart comparing frost weight between an auxiliary air path and a normal air path provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 21 is a line chart comparing humidity between a moisture-retaining drawer and a conventional drawer provided an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram of a control method for a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram of another control method for a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram of another control method for a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram of another control method for a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram of a control device for a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

REFERENCES IN THE DRAWINGS:

10: Inner liner; 101: First air vent; 102: Second air vent; 103: Third air vent; 104: Diversion air duct; 105: Slide rail; 20: Drawer body; 30: Drawer cover; 40: Moisture-permeable component; 401: Lower seat; 4011: First hollow portion; 4012: Water vapor guiding surface; 4013: Condensed water diversion surface; 4014: Water-stopping step; 4015: Boss; 4016: Elastic claw; 402: Moisture-permeable membrane; 403: Upper cover; 4031: Second hollow portion; 4032: Limiting plate; 4033: Limiting groove; 4034: Clamping portion; 4035: Guiding protection portion; 4036: Elastic deformation portion; 4037: Elastic restoring portion; 50: Damper assembly; 501: Damper slide; 5011: Rack portion; 5012: Second ventilation opening; 502: Transmission gear; 503: Motor; 60: Circulation fan; 70: Humidity sensor; 100: First ventilation portion; 200: Second ventilation portion; 1: Processor; 2: Memory; 3: Communication interface; 4: Bus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In order to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the features and technical details of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the implementation of the embodiments of the present disclosure is described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure. In the following description of the technology, numerous specific details are set forth to facilitate explanation and to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure. However, one or more embodiments may still be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in simplified form in the drawings for clarity.
Any reference to related technologies in this specification is not, and should not be construed as, an admission or implication in any form that such related technologies constitute common general knowledge in the filling jurisdiction or in any other jurisdiction, or that such related technologies could reasonably be known to or regarded as relevant by a person skilled in the art.
The terms "first", "second", etc., used in the specification, claims, and drawings of the present disclosure are intended to distinguish between similar objects and do not necessarily denote a specific sequence or order. It should be understood that such designations may be interchangeable where appropriate, so as to enable the embodiments of the present disclosure as described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprise", "include", "have", and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.
In the present disclosure, directional terms such as "upper", "lower", "inner", "central", "outer", "front", and "rear" refer to the orientations or positional relationships illustrated in the drawings. These terms are used primarily to better describe the embodiments of the present disclosure and their implementations, and are not intended to require that the described devices, elements, or components must have a particular orientation or be constructed or operated in a specific direction. Moreover, some of these terms may also carry meanings beyond spatial orientation-for example, the term "upper" may, in certain contexts, indicate a dependency or connection relationship. A person of ordinary skill in the art can understand the specific meaning of such terms in the context of the present disclosure based on the particular situation.
Additionally, the terms "arranged", "connected", and "fixed" should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connected" may refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral construction; it may be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it may be a direct connection, an indirect connection via an intermediary, or internal communication between two devices, elements, or components. A person of ordinary skill in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in the context of the present disclosure based on the particular situation.
Unless otherwise specified, the term "a plurality of" means two or more.
In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the character "/" indicates an "or" relationship between the preceding and following elements. For example, A/B means A or B.
The expression "and/or" describes an associative relationship between objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and/or B means: A only, B only, or both A and B.
It should be noted that, where there is no conflict, the embodiments and features thereof described in the present disclosure may be combined with each other.
In related technologies, moisture-retaining drawers with food preservation functions can only be used in refrigerated compartments of a refrigerator. If existing moisture-retaining drawers are directly applied to freezer compartments, frost will form on the top of the moisture-retaining drawers.
In conjunction with FIGS. 1 to 26 shown, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a refrigerator, including an inner liner 10 and a drawer assembly. The inner liner 10 and the drawer assembly provided in this embodiment can be used in a freezer compartment to meet the user's need for moisture preservation and freshness of food in the freezer compartment. However, it should be noted that the inner liner 10 and the drawer assembly provided in this embodiment are not limited to freezer compartments and can also be applied to refrigerated compartments or variable temperature compartments.
The inner liner 10 is provided with at least a plurality of air vents. The drawer assembly is disposed in the inner liner 10 and includes a drawer cover 30 and a drawer body 20 that are slidably connected, the drawer cover 30 is provided with a moisture-permeable component 40, and the top of the drawer assembly is provided with a first ventilation portion 100 and a second ventilation portion 200 that are arranged opposite to each other. Airflow blown from at least one air vent flows into the drawer body 20 through the first ventilation portion 100 and flows out from the second ventilation portion 200. The airflow flowing into the drawer body 20 forms an auxiliary air path on a lower surface of the drawer cover 30, and the auxiliary air path is configured to prevent frosting on the lower surface of the moisture-permeable component 40.
An inner side wall of the inner liner 10 is provided with a supply air duct, and a main fan is arranged in the supply air duct. The airflow blown from the main fan flows through the supply air duct and is blown out from two air vents into a compartment to play a refrigeration role. It should be noted that the airflow blown out from the air vents of the inner liner 10 has the same temperature and humidity. In this text, only the different positions and different functions are distinguished, and the air vents are named for the convenience of description.
The drawer assembly is disposed in the inner liner 10 and slidably connected to the drawer body 20 through the drawer cover 30, and a drawer cover is arranged on the drawer body 20, so that a relatively enclosed space is formed inside the drawer. In this way, the airflow blown out from the air vents can be prevented from directly entering the drawer and acting on the surface of the food, which could cause serious loss of moisture in the food and affect the eating taste and quality of the food.
The drawer assembly including the drawer cover 30 can maintain the food in the drawer in a high-humidity environment. However, if the humidity exceeds a preset value, not only can the taste and quality of the food in the drawer be affected, but also the freezing and refrigeration effect of the food can be reduced. Therefore, the drawer cover 30 with the moisture-permeable component 40 provided in this embodiment can not only achieve the purpose of covering the drawer to form an enclosed space but also adjust the humidity of an environment inside the drawer through the moisture-permeable component 40, ensuring that the food in the drawer is in a humidity environment that can balance preservation and freezing effects.
In this embodiment, the first ventilation portion 100 and the second ventilation portion 200 that are provided at the top of the drawer assembly allow airflow blown from the air vents to flow through the interior of the drawer body 20. Based on the first ventilation portion 100 and the second ventilation portion 200 that are located at the top of the drawer assembly, and with the aid of pressure differential, the airflow flowing into the drawer body 20 flows along the lower surface of the drawer cover 30 to form an auxiliary air path, namely a parallel flow parallel to the drawer cover 30. By having the airflow flow along the lower surface of the drawer cover 30, water vapor on the lower surface of the moisture-permeable component 40 can be carried away, preventing the water vapor from condensing (i.e., frosting) on the lower surface of the moisture-permeable component 40, which could affect the moisture-permeable function of the moisture-permeable component 40. Moreover, the reduction of humidity inside the drawer can be accelerated, preventing excessively high humidity. Additionally, the auxiliary air path is parallel to the lower surface of the drawer cover 30, which generally does not come into contact with the food inside the drawer body 20, thereby avoiding direct cold air blowing on the food and ensuring the preservation effect.
The phrase "airflow blown from at least one air vent flows into the drawer body 20 through the first ventilation portion 100 and flows out from the second ventilation portion 200" can be explained as follows: the first ventilation portion 100 serves as an air inlet, and the second ventilation portion 200 serves as an air vent. The first ventilation portion 100 may be located at the back of the drawer assembly (i.e., near an air vent side), but it may also be located at the front of the drawer assembly. When the first ventilation portion 100 is located at the back of the drawer assembly, the second ventilation portion 200 is at the front of the drawer assembly. Conversely, when the first ventilation portion 100 is at the front of the drawer assembly, the second ventilation portion 200 is at the back of the drawer assembly.
When the first ventilation portion 100 is at the front of the drawer assembly, air enters from a front end of the drawer assembly. The air vent has a larger air output volume and a higher wind speed. The second ventilation portion 200 serves as the air vent, and a negative pressure zone is created at the second ventilation portion 200 from the airflow blown from the air vent, so that the cold air can flow faster along the lower surface of the drawer cover 30 and flow out from the second ventilation portion 200. Additionally, the reduction of humidity inside the drawer can also be accelerated. When the first ventilation portion 100 is at the back of the drawer assembly, air enters from the back of the drawer assembly and exits from the front. The airflow blown from the air vent can directly flow into the drawer through the first ventilation portion 100 and then flow out from the second ventilation portion 200. Similarly, the airflow from the air vent has a higher velocity, and can quickly flow out from the second ventilation portion 200, preventing direct cold air blowing on the surface of the food inside the drawer that could affect the preservation effect.
In some embodiments, the moisture-permeable component 40 includes a moisture-permeable membrane 402. The moisture-permeable membrane 402 has a three-layer structure which includes a hydrophobic layer, a water-conducting layer, and a hydrophilic layer. The pore size of the moisture-permeable membrane 402 can be adjusted automatically according to the humidity level above a certain humidity threshold. During the period when the main fan stops supplying air, the moisture-permeable membrane 402, due to its inherent characteristics, actively allows moisture to permeate outward when the relative humidity exceeds 85%, and stops allowing moisture to permeate outward when the relative humidity drops below 80%, preventing a decrease in food humidity. At this moment, through indirect cooling by the drawer body 20 and drawer cover 30, and under weak natural convection conditions formed by the first ventilation portion 100 and the second ventilation portion 200, temperature consistency inside and outside the drawer is achieved, thereby enabling precise temperature control inside the drawer. In practical applications, since the temperature of the freezer compartment is controlled by a temperature sensor, a compressor stops refrigerating when the temperature drops below -20°C. As the temperature rises back to -15°C, the relative humidity inside the drawer is raised to about 85%, due to moisture lost by the food itself and the effect of the moisture-permeable membrane 402. The compressor starts refrigerating when the temperature reaches -15°C. As the temperature drops to -20°C, the humidity inside the drawer is reduced, bringing the relative humidity inside the drawer down to about 80%. This ensures that the food inside the drawer is always maintained in a high-humidity environment with a relative humidity of 80%-85%, enhancing the preservation effect of the food.
For example, the moisture-permeable membrane 402 has a three-layer structure. The layer facing the interior of the drawer is hydrophobic, the intermediate layer (i.e., the layer with a nano-microporous structure) is water-conducting, and the layer deviating from the interior of the drawer is hydrophilic, when the relative humidity is above 80%. To protect the moisture-permeable membrane 402, non-woven fabric can be added on both sides of the membrane, and it can be sealed with plastic around the perimeter to prevent external violent damage to the moisture-permeable membrane 402.

Through the auxiliary air path formed in this embodiment, not only can the amount of frosting on the drawer cover 30 be effectively reduced, but also the humidity environment inside the drawer can be maintained. Relevant experimental data can be referenced in Table 1 and FIGS. 20 and 21.

Table 1

Frosting comparison (350g wet sponge *3)
	Frosting gram weight of auxiliary air path		Frosting gram weight of normal air path
1h		1.9		2.2
2h		3.3		4.3
3h		4.5		6.5
4h		5.6		8.1
5h		6.6		10.2
6h		7.5		12.1
7h		8.3		14.3
8h		9		16.4
9h		9.6		18.3
10h		10		21
11h		9.9		20.9
12h		9.9		20.9
13h		9.8		20.9
14h		9.8		20.9
15h		9.7		20.9
16h		9.7		20.8
17h		9.6		20.8
18h		9.6		20.8
19h		9.5		20.8
20h		9.5		20.8
21h		9.5		20.8
22h		9.5		20.8
23h		9.5		20.7
24h		9.4		20.7

As shown in Table 1, FIGS 20 and 21, compared to moisture-retaining drawers without air paths or with other air paths, the drawer with the moisture-retaining function in this embodiment can effectively reduce the frosting amount of the moisture-permeable component 40 by 50% through the auxiliary air path. Additionally, compared to existing drawers in freezer compartments, the drawer with the moisture-retaining function provided in this embodiment increases the humidity inside the drawer by at least 40%.
In some embodiments, the inner liner 10 includes: a first air vent 101, airflow from which flows over an upper surface of the drawer cover 30 to form a main air path, thereby blowing away water vapor permeating through the moisture-permeable component 40. The first air vent 101 is configured to discharge air horizontally and is positioned above the drawer cover 30. In conjunction with FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5 shown, the first air vent 101 can be considered as a main air vent of the supply air duct, mainly responsible for cooling a space inside the freezer compartment. The airflow blown from the first air vent 101 not only has a large flow rate but also a high velocity. As the supply air duct blows air, the cold air blown from the first air vent 101 flows over the drawer cover 30, that is, the airflow of the main air path flows over the drawer cover 30, which can quickly carry away water vapor permeating through the moisture-permeable component 40, ensuring that the moisture-permeable component 40 remains in an efficient moisture-retaining state. The first air vent 101 is configured to discharge air horizontally, allowing the airflow blown from the first air vent 101 to be parallel to the drawer cover 30, thereby cooperating with the auxiliary air path to form a parallel flow on the lower surface side of the drawer cover 30. This not only quickly reduces the high-humidity water vapor below the drawer cover 30 to prevent the risk of ice formation on the drawer cover 30 due to excessive moisture, but also prevents cold air from directly blowing on the food to preserve their freshness.
In some embodiments, the inner liner 10 further includes: a second air vent 102, located below the first air vent 101. The second air vent 102 is configured to form an auxiliary air path or to increase an airflow velocity of the auxiliary air path. In conjunction with FIGS 1, 2, 4, and 5 shown, the second air vent 102 is positioned below the first air vent 101 and provided specifically for the auxiliary air path. The airflow volume of the auxiliary air path is much smaller than that of the main air path. Hence, it can be considered that the flow area (i.e., the outlet area) of the second air vent 102 is smaller than that of the first air vent 101.
In some embodiments, the second air vent 102, when discharging air horizontally, corresponds to the first ventilation portion 100 or the second ventilation portion 200 of the drawer assembly, so that the discharged airflow flows into the drawer body 20 to form the auxiliary air path. In conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2 shown, the second air vent 102, when discharging air horizontally, is configured to form the auxiliary air path. For ease of description and differentiation in conjunction with the previous text, the first ventilation portion 100 is defined as an air inlet, so the second air vent 102 corresponds to the first ventilation portion 100. The airflow blown from the second air vent 102 flows into the drawer through the first ventilation portion 100. Although the airflow volume from the second air vent 102 is not as large as that from the first air vent 101, the velocity of the airflow from the second air vent 102 is still relatively high. The airflow, when entering the drawer body 20, continues to flow forward quickly and flows out through the second ventilation portion 200 located at the front, thereby forming a parallel wind curtain layer on the lower surface of the drawer cover 30, which blows away the water vapor on the lower surface of the drawer cover 30. This not only quickly reduces the high-humidity water vapor below the drawer cover 30 to prevent the risk of ice formation on the drawer cover 30 and the moisture-permeable component 40 due to excessive moisture, but also prevents cold air from directly blowing on the food to preserve their freshness.
In some embodiments, the second air vent 102, when discharging air vertically and downwardly, is positioned above the first ventilation portion 100 or the second ventilation portion 200 of the drawer assembly, and configured to blow away the airflow flowing out from the drawer assembly, increasing the pressure differential to accelerate the airflow velocity of the auxiliary air path. In conjunction with FIGS 4 and 5 shown, the second air vent 102, when discharging air vertically and downwardly, is configured to accelerate the airflow velocity of the auxiliary air path. In this case, the air vent of the drawer assembly is positioned near the second air vent 102, that is, the second ventilation portion 200 is located at the back of the drawer assembly, and the first ventilation portion 100 is at the front of the drawer assembly. The second air vent 102 is positioned above the second ventilation portion 200, so that the airflow flowing out from the second ventilation portion 200 can be quickly blown away by the second air vent 102. In this way, a certain pressure differential is created at the second ventilation portion 200, which can accelerate the flowing of the airflow from the auxiliary air path within the drawer to the second ventilation portion 200. This quickly reduces the high-humidity water vapor below the drawer cover 30 to prevent the risk of ice formation on the drawer cover 30 and the moisture-permeable component 40 due to excessive moisture, and also prevents cold air from directly blowing on the food to preserve their freshness.
In some embodiments, the refrigerator further includes: a damper assembly 50, disposed at the second air vent 102 and configured to adjust the flow area of the second air vent 102. In conjunction with FIGS. 6 to 9 shown, the flow area of the second air vent 102 is adjusted through the damper assembly 50, that is, the air volume of the second air vent 102 is adjusted, thereby achieving the adjustment of the auxiliary air path, and further achieving the humidity control inside the drawer. The drawer assembly provided in this embodiment can not only adjust the humidity inside the drawer through the moisture-permeable component 40 but also adjust the humidity inside the drawer by adjusting the airflow volume of the second air vent 102 and the auxiliary air path. The moisture-permeable component 40 and the auxiliary air path cooperate with each other to not only ensure the moisture-permeable effect of the moisture-permeable component 40 but also ensure the moisture preservation and freshness effect of the drawer.
In some embodiments, a slide rail 105 is provided at the second air vent 102, and the damper assembly 50 includes: a damper slide 501, slidably connected to the slide rail 105 and configured to adjust the flow area of the second air vent 102, and an end portion of the damper slide 501 is provided with a rack portion 5011; a transmission gear 502, meshed with the rack portion 5011; and a motor 503, disposed in the inner liner 10 and drivingly connected to the transmission gear 502. The motor 503 drives the transmission gear 502 to rotate, thereby driving the damper slide 501 to reciprocate linearly, and further adjusting the flow area of the second air vent 102. In conjunction with FIGS. 6 to 9 shown, the damper slide 501 covers a ventilation area of the second air vent 102, making the flow area of the second air vent 102 adjustable. The motor 503 drives the transmission gear 502 to rotate, and the transmission gear 502 is meshed with the rack portion 5011 of the damper slide 501, thereby driving the damper slide 501 to reciprocate linearly along the slide rail 105, and further adjusting the flow area of the second air vent 102.
To more efficiently adjust the flow area of the second air vent 102, in some embodiments, the second air vent 102 includes a plurality of first ventilation openings, and the damper slide 501 is also provided with a plurality of second ventilation openings 5012 adapted to the first ventilation openings. When the second ventilation openings 5012 correspond to the first ventilation openings, the second air vent 102 is opened. When an area between adjacent second ventilation openings 5012 corresponds to the first ventilation openings, the second air vent 102 is closed. This overcomes the limitation of requiring excessive moving space where the damper slide 501 needs to move from one end of the second air vent 102 to the other end to completely close the second air vent 102.
In some embodiments, the refrigerator further includes: a circulation fan 60, located above the moisture-permeable component 40 to start when the first air vent 101 stops discharging air, forming a circulation air path to blow away the water vapor on the surface of the moisture-permeable component 40. In conjunction with FIGS. 10 to 13 shown, when the first air vent 101 stops discharging air, the circulation fan 60 is started, and the airflow generated by the circulation fan 60 can suck or blow air from the moisture-permeable component 40 of the drawer cover 30, blowing away or carrying away the water vapor on the surface of the moisture-permeable component 40, and exchanging it with the cold air in the freezer compartment, preventing the risk of ice formation on the surface of the moisture-permeable component 40 due to poor moisture discharge that could affect the moisture preservation effect of the drawer, and eliminating the quality risk of ice formation on the drawer inner wall and drawer cover due to excessive humidity inside the drawer.
For example, when the drawer assembly is located above the freezer compartment, the top of the inner liner 10 is provided with a diversion air duct 104, and the circulation fan 60 is connected to the diversion air duct 104. For example, the first air vent 101 stops discharging air, and the circulation fan 60 is started and sucks air outward from the moisture-permeable component 40, that is, the moisture-permeable component 40 is located on an air intake side of the circulation fan 60, and an air vent side of the circulation fan 60 faces the diversion air duct 104. When the circulation fan 60 is started, the airflow on the upper surface of the drawer cover 30 flows into the circulation fan 60 under the action of suction and is blown out to the diversion air duct 104. The airflow flowing out from the diversion air duct 104 enters the circulation fan 60 again under the action of suction, and this process is repeated in this way. When circulating back and forth, the airflow flows over the upper surface of the moisture-permeable component 40, which can timely carry away the water vapor permeating through the moisture-permeable component 40, preventing the risk of ice formation on the surface of the moisture-permeable component 40 due to poor moisture discharge.
For example, the first air vent 101 stops discharging air, the circulation fan 60 is started and blows air to the moisture-permeable component 40, that is, the moisture-permeable component 40 is located on the air vent side of the circulation fan 60, and the air intake side of the circulation fan 60 faces the diversion air duct 104. When the circulation fan 60 is started, the airflow on the upper surface of the drawer cover 30 flows around the drawer cover 30 under the action of the fan, then enters the circulation fan 60 through the diversion air duct 104, and is blown out by the circulation fan 60, and this process is repeated in this way. When circulating back and forth, the airflow flows over the upper surface of the moisture-permeable component 40, which can timely blow away the water vapor permeating through the moisture-permeable component 40, preventing the risk of ice formation on the surface of the moisture-permeable component 40 due to poor moisture discharge.
It should be noted that a certain gap is kept between the circulation fan 60 and the surface of the moisture-permeable component 40, so that the airflow above the drawer cover 30 can flow into the gap between the circulation fan 60 and the surface of the moisture-permeable component 40, thereby blowing away or carrying away the water vapor on the surface of the moisture-permeable component 40.
In some embodiments, the refrigerator further includes: a humidity sensor 70, disposed in the drawer body 20 and configured to detect the humidity inside the drawer body 20. The humidity sensor 70 is connected to the damper assembly 50 at the second air vent 102 and/or the circulation fan 60, and the damper assembly 50 and/or the circulation fan 60 are/is actuated according to a signal from the humidity sensor 70, so as to maintain the humidity inside the drawer body 20 within a predetermined range.
For example, when the humidity sensor 70 detects that the relative humidity inside the drawer drops to 82%, a signal is sent to trigger the motor 503 of the damper assembly 50 to act, thereby causing the damper slide 501 to close the second air vent 102, that is, reducing the airflow volume and velocity of the auxiliary air path prevents the humidity inside the drawer from continuing to decrease. During the period when the supply air duct stops supplying air, the moisture-permeable membrane 402, due to its inherent characteristics, actively allows moisture to permeate outward when the relative humidity exceeds 85%, and stops allowing moisture to permeate outward when the relative humidity drops below 80%, preventing a decrease in humidity inside the drawer. At this moment, through indirect cooling by the drawer body 20 and drawer cover 30, and under weak natural convection conditions formed by the first ventilation portion 100 and the second ventilation portion 200, temperature consistency inside and outside the drawer is achieved, thereby enabling precise temperature control inside the drawer. When the humidity sensor 70 detects that the relative humidity exceeds 87%, the circulation fan 60 is started, and the damper assembly 50 is opened, that is, the second air vent 102 is opened, to reduce the relative humidity inside the drawer to 82%. Then, the circulation fan 60 is stopped and the second air vent 102 is closed, thereby ensuring that the food inside the drawer is always maintained in a high-humidity environment with a relative humidity of 80%-85%, enhancing the preservation effect of the food.
In some embodiments, the inner liner 10 further includes: a third air vent 103, located below the second air vent 102. The third air vent 103 corresponds to a middle or lower part of the drawer body 20 to rapidly cool the drawer. In conjunction with FIG. 10 shown, the airflow blown from the third air vent 103 has the same temperature and humidity as the airflow blown from the first air vent 101 and the second air vent 102. Airflow is directly blown to the middle or lower part of the drawer body 20 through the third air vent 103, which can achieve rapid cooling of the middle and lower parts of the drawer body 20, thereby enabling the food inside the drawer to be cooled quickly, and avoiding the situation where the freezing rate of the food slows down due to the drawer cover 30 blocking the cold air from directly blowing on the food.
The first air vent 101 and the second air vent 102 that are provided in this embodiment can be regarded as upper air vents relative to the drawer body 20, while the third air vent 103 can be regarded as a lower air vent relative to the drawer body 20. Two sets of air vents are longitudinally arranged at the back of the drawer body 20. The upper air vents are used in conjunction with the show-through component to achieve humidity control and frost control (reducing frosting amount) in the drawer, and the lower air vent is configured to blow cold air directly to the bottom and non-top side walls of the drawer to achieve rapid cooling. On one hand, this allows the food inside the drawer to be cooled more quickly, and on the other hand, in situations where a small amount of food is stored or excessive longitudinal humidity is easily caused due to relatively large longitudinal height of the drawer, limited moisture in the drawer can be locked in the form of condensation on the inner side of the drawer, avoiding the unfavorable situation where moisture continues to move upward and dissipate quickly when only upper air vents are present, and preventing continuous and rapid moisture loss caused by continuous formation of a vertical humidity gradient inside the drawer body 20.
In some embodiments, the outlet area of both the upper and lower air vents is adjustable. Under the user of normal moisture-retaining function, the outlet area of the upper air vent is smaller than that of the lower air vent. The upper air vent is configured to achieve humidity control and frost control in the moisture-retaining drawer, and the larger area of the lower air vent enables rapid cooling. On one hand, this allows the food inside the drawer to be cooled more quickly, and on the other hand, moisture inside the drawer can be locked in the form of condensation on the inner side of the drawer, making the relative humidity of the air at the bottom higher and closer to the humidity of the food surface, avoiding continuous migration of moisture from the food. The smaller area of the upper air vent results in relatively high temperature and low relative humidity, which minimizes moisture loss while controlling frost, preventing continuous and rapid moisture loss caused by the continuous formation of a vertical humidity gradient inside the drawer body 20.
Further, if improper use by a user causes frosting on the upper cover 403, the area of the upper air vent can be increased in the present of food stored in the drawer to accelerate air circulation at the top and eliminate the frosting. After the abnormal situation is corrected, the outlet area of the air vent can be restored to normal. It is unnecessary to empty the food in the drawer for defrosting.
In some embodiments, the first ventilation portion 100 is formed at the top of the drawer cover 30, the top of the drawer body 20, or in a space defined between the drawer cover 30 and the drawer body 20. In conjunction with FIGS 3 shown, the first ventilation portion 100, when formed at the top of the drawer cover 30 or at the top of the drawer body 20, may be a plurality of ventilation holes or a through ventilation slot in a penetrating way. The first ventilation portion 100, when formed between the drawer cover 30 and the drawer body 20, may be a gap, a flashing seam, etc., formed between the drawer cover 30 and the drawer body 20.
In some embodiments, the second ventilation portion 200 is formed at the top of the drawer cover 30, the top of the drawer body 20, or in a space defined between the drawer cover 30 and the drawer body 20. In conjunction with FIG. 3 shown, the second ventilation portion 200, when formed at the top of the drawer cover 30 or the drawer body 20, may be a plurality of ventilation holes or a through ventilation slot in a penetrating way. The second ventilation portion 200, when formed between the drawer cover 30 and the drawer body 20, may be a gap, a flashing seam, etc., formed between the drawer cover 30 and the drawer body 20. It should be noted that the specific positions of the first ventilation portion 100 and the second ventilation portion 200 can be determined according to actual conditions and are not limited to the same component (i.e., the top of the drawer cover 30 or the drawer body 20). They can be formed between the drawer cover 30 and the drawer body 20.
In conjunction with FIGS. 14 to 19 shown, in some embodiments, the moisture-permeable component 40 includes a lower seat 401 and a moisture-permeable membrane 402. The lower seat 401 is provided with a first hollow portion 4011 for covering the top of the drawer. The moisture-permeable membrane 402 is disposed above the lower seat 401. An inner side wall of the first hollow portion 4011 is provided with a water vapor guiding surface 4012 inclining upwardly and a condensed water diversion surface 4013 inclining downwardly. The condensed water diversion surface 4013 is located above and intersects with the water vapor guiding surface 4012. In this way, the moisture-permeable component 40 is located at the top of the drawer, moisture inside the drawer passes through the first hollow portion 4011 of the lower seat 401 to the moisture-permeable membrane 402, achieving the purposes of moisture permeation and humidity adjustment through the moisture-permeable membrane 402. Through the water vapor guiding surface 4012 and the condensed water diversion surface 4013 of the first hollow portion 4011, not only can the mobility of water vapor be increased, but also the condensed water formed on the inner side of the moisture-permeable membrane 402 can be guided, avoiding freezing of water vapor and condensed water on the lower seat 401 and the inner side of the moisture-permeable membrane 402, which can effectively reduce the frosting amount.
When the lower seat 401 is placed horizontally, the inner side wall of the first hollow portion 4011 protrudes outward and has a triangular or similar triangular cross-section. It can be understood that the condensed water diversion surface 4013 and the water vapor guiding surface 4012 are two intersecting planes protruding outward from the inner side wall of the first hollow portion 4011. The condensed water diversion surface 4013 is located above the water vapor guiding surface 4012.
When the drawer cover 30 with the moisture-permeable component 40 covers the drawer body 20, water vapor inside the drawer body 20 flows upward along the water vapor guiding surface 4012. During this flow, water droplets carried by the water vapor condense into condensed water upon contact with the water vapor guiding surface 4012, then slide down along the inclined water vapor guiding surface 4012 and drip into the drawer body 20. This can not only reduce the discharge of water vapor inside the drawer but also avoid frosting on the side walls of the first hollow portion 4011 that could cause blockage and affect the flow of water vapor.
Since the drawer cover 30 covering the drawer indirectly cools the food inside the drawer, the air outside the drawer is at a lower temperature than inside. Therefore, when the humidity of water vapor inside the drawer exceeds a set humidity and is discharged through the moisture-permeable component 40, water vapor in contact with the lower cover will condense, that is, water vapor condenses on the condensed water diversion surface 4013 of the first hollow portion 4011 to form condensed water. Based on the inclined arrangement of the condensed water diversion surface 4013, the condensed water flows downward along an inclined surface, thereby avoiding condensation and freezing on the condensed water diversion surface 4013. Additionally, the condensed water diversion surface 4013 faces the moisture-permeable membrane 402, which can not only allow water vapor to flow along the condensed water diversion surface 4013 to guide the condensed water, but also expand the contact area between water vapor on the first hollow portion 4011 and the moisture-permeable membrane 402.
In some embodiments, a water-stopping step 4014 is provided at an intersection between the water vapor guiding surface 4012 and the condensed water diversion surface 4013, and configured to stop water droplets carried by water vapor moving along the water vapor guiding surface 4012 from continuing to move upward. Both ends of the water-stopping step 4014 are connected to the top of the water vapor guiding surface 4012 and the bottom of the condensed water diversion surface 4013, respectively. The water-stopping step 4014 is located at the intersection between the water vapor guiding surface 4012 and the condensed water diversion surface 4013, and the bottom of the condensed water diversion surface 4013 protrudes beyond the top of the water vapor guiding surface 4012. When water vapor inside the drawer moves upward along the water vapor guiding surface 4012 to the water-stopping step 4014, some water droplets carried by the water vapor adhere to the water vapor guiding surface 4012, and under the guidance of the inclined water vapor guiding surface 4012, the water droplets adhered onto the water vapor guiding surface 4012 move downward and drip. Meanwhile, other water droplets carried by the water vapor move to the water-stopping step 4014, and under the stopping effect of the water-stopping step 4014, they adhere to the surface of the water-stopping step 4014 and then drip into the drawer. It should be noted that the water-stopping step 4014 can not only stop water droplets in the water vapor but also hinder the upward movement of water vapor to some extent, further extending the time of water vapor staying inside the drawer. Additionally, water droplets in the water vapor include not only those originally carried water droplets but also those formed by condensation during the movement of water vapor.
Through the water-stopping step 4014, water droplets in the water vapor can be prevented from moving to a lower side of the moisture-permeable membrane 402, thereby reducing the frosting amount of the lower side of the moisture-permeable membrane 402 and the lower cover, avoiding blockage of the moisture-permeable membrane 402 and the first hollow portion 4011 of the lower cover, and further ensuring the moisture-permeable effect of the moisture-permeable component 40. In some embodiments, the water-stopping step 4014 is arranged parallel to an upper surface of the lower seat 401. This can provide a better stopping effect for water vapor and water droplets carried by it.
In some embodiments, an angle between the condensed water diversion surface and a vertical plane is greater than or equal to 7°, so that condensed water formed between the moisture-permeable membrane 402 and the lower seat 401 flows downward along the condensed water guiding surface, preventing condensation. In this embodiment, the moisture-permeable component 40 is horizontally positioned during use. Therefore, when the angle between the condensed water guiding surface and the vertical plane is 7°, it is the minimum angle at which water vapor and condensed water can flow downward along the condensed water guiding surface 4013. This can prevent water vapor and condensed water from condensing and frosting on the condensed water diversion surface 4013, thereby reducing the frosting amount of the inner side of the moisture-permeable membrane 402 and avoiding blockage of the moisture-permeable membrane 402 and the first hollow portion 4011 of the lower cover, and further ensuring the moisture-permeable effect of the moisture-permeable component 40. When the angle between the condensed water guiding surface and the vertical plane is greater than 7°, water vapor and condensed water can flow downward along the condensed water diversion surface 4013, preventing frosting on the inner side of the moisture-permeable membrane 402 and the upper surface of the lower cover, thereby avoiding blockage of the moisture-permeable membrane 402 and the first hollow portion 4011 of the lower cover, and further ensuring the moisture-permeable effect of the moisture-permeable component 40.
In some embodiments, an angle between the water vapor guiding surface 4012 and the vertical plane is less than or equal to 2° to prevent water vapor from condensing on the water vapor guiding surface 4012 when flowing along it. In this embodiment, the moisture-permeable component 40 is horizontally positioned during use. Therefore, when the angle between the water vapor guiding surface 4012 and the vertical plane is 2°, the water vapor guiding surface 4012 can not only serve a guiding function but also prevent water vapor from condensing on the guiding surface, thereby eliminating the risk of water vapor freezing and frosting on the water vapor guiding surface 4012. When the angle between the water vapor guiding surface 4012 and the vertical plane is less than 2°, it ensures that water vapor does not condense on the guiding surface, thereby eliminating the risk of water vapor freezing and frosting on the water vapor guiding surface 4012.
In some embodiments, the moisture-permeable component 40 further includes an upper cover 403. The upper cover 403 is provided with a plurality of second hollow portions 4031 and detachably connected to the lower seat 401. The lower surface of the upper cover 403 and the upper surface of the lower seat 401 enclose a moisture-permeable chamber, and the moisture-permeable membrane 402 is disposed within the moisture-permeable chamber. The moisture-permeable component 40 is connected with the lower seat 401 through the upper cover 403. Fixing the moisture-permeable membrane 402 within the moisture-permeable chamber can not only further secure the position of the moisture-permeable membrane 402, but also protect it from damage that could further affect the moisture-permeable effect. Additionally, the moisture-permeable component 40 is horizontally positioned during use, the lower seat 401 is located below the moisture-permeable membrane 402, and the upper cover 403 is located above it. Through the plurality of second hollow portions 4031 provided on the upper cover 403, water vapor permeating through the moisture-permeable membrane 402 can be conveniently discharged through the second hollow portions 4031, that is, the second hollow portions 4031 serve the purpose of water vapor drainage.
In some embodiments, the second hollow portions 4031 are correspondingly arranged with the first hollow portions 4011, so that water vapor permeating through the first hollow portions 4011 is discharged through the second hollow portions 4031 after passing through the moisture-permeable membrane 402. In some embodiments, the side walls of the second hollow portions 4031 are also provided with a water vapor guiding surface 4012, a condensed water diversion surface 4013, and a water-stopping step 4014. This helps to reduce frosting of the permeated water vapor on the upper sides of the second hollow portions 4031 and the moisture-permeable membrane 402, preventing blockage of the second hollow portions 4031 and the moisture-permeable membrane 402.
In some embodiments, the edge of the upper surface of the lower seat 401 is upwardly protruded to form a boss 4015. When the lower seat 401 is connected to the upper cover 403, the boss 4015 abuts against the moisture-permeable membrane 402, so that the moisture-permeable membrane 402 is pressed against the lower surface of the upper cover 403. In this embodiment, the edge of the upper surface of the lower seat 401 is upwardly protruded to form a boss 4015, that is, when the moisture-permeable membrane 402 is placed in the moisture-permeable chamber, the edge of the moisture-permeable membrane 402 is supported on the boss 4015. When the lower seat 401 is connected to the upper cover 403, the boss 4015 presses the moisture-permeable membrane 402 against the lower surface of the upper cover 403. In this way, the moisture-permeable membrane 402 is pressed against the upper cover 403 to secure the moisture-permeable membrane 402, so as to prevent the moisture-permeable membrane 402 from moving within the moisture-permeable chamber.
In some embodiments, the boss 4015 may be arranged to surround the periphery of the lower seat 401. In this way, the edge of the moisture-permeable membrane 402 is completely pressed against the lower surface of the upper cover 403. This can not only ensure the stability of the moisture-permeable membrane 402, but also maintain its flatness, preventing the moisture-permeable membrane 402 from wrinkling that could affect the moisture-permeable effect.
In some embodiments, the lower seat 401 is provided with elastic claws 4016, and the upper cover 403 is provided with limiting grooves 4033. The elastic claws 4016 are engaged with the limiting grooves 4033 to achieve a detachable connection between the lower seat 401 and the upper cover 403. In conjunction with FIGS. 14 and 17 shown, the lower seat 401 provided in an embodiment has curved elastic claws 4016, and the edge of the lower surface of the upper cover 403 partially and downwardly extends to form a limiting plate 4032 which is provided with limiting grooves 4033. The lower seat 401 is assembled with the upper cover 403 from bottom to top, and the limiting plate 4032 is located at an outer edge of the lower seat 401. When the elastic claws 4016 of the lower seat 401 move upward from the edge of the limiting plate 4032, the elastic claws 4016 deform under stress until limiting ends of the elastic claws 4016 move into the limiting grooves 4033. In this way, the elastic claws 4016 are engaged within the limiting grooves 4033 of the upper cover 403, achieving a fixed connection between the lower seat 401 and the upper cover 403. When it is necessary to disassemble the lower seat 401 and the upper cover 403, the limiting ends of the elastic claws 4016a are simply pressed inward to release the from the limiting grooves 4033, and then the lower seat 401 is separated from the upper cover 403.
In some embodiments, the lower seat 401 is provided with a clamping slot, and the upper cover 403 is provided with a clamping portion 4034. The clamping portion 4034 is inserted into the clamping slot to achieve a detachable connection between the upper cover 403 and the lower seat 401. In conjunction with FIGS. 18 and 19 shown, in another embodiment, the lower seat 401 is provided with a clamping slot, and the upper cover 403 is provided with a clamping portion 4034. When the upper cover 403 is connected to the lower cover, the clamping portion 4034 of the upper cover 403 is directly inserted into the clamping slot of the lower seat 401 to achieve a fixed connection.
In some embodiments, the clamping portion 4034 is provided on the lower surface of the upper cover 403 and is arranged perpendicular to the upper cover 403.
In some embodiments, the clamping portion 4034 includes a guiding protection portion 4035 and two elastic portions. The two elastic portions are located on both sides of the guiding protection portion 4035. When the clamping portion 4034 is inserted into the clamping slot, the guiding protection portion 4035 provides guidance, the two elastic portions deform and abut against the side walls of the clamping slot, causing the clamping portion 4034 to be engaged within the clamping slot and preventing it from coming out. In some embodiments, the elastic portion includes a columnar elastic deformation portion 4036 and a resilient restoring portion 4037 that connects the elastic deformation portion 4036 and the guiding protection portion 4035, where the elastic deformation portion 4036 and the guiding protection portion 4035 are both arranged perpendicular to the upper cover 403 and spaced apart from each other, and the resilient restoring portion 4037 is bent and located between the elastic deformation portion 4036 and the guiding protection portion 4035.
The guiding protection portion 4035 can overcome guiding defects during the installation process of the upper cover 403 and the lower seat 401, and can also provide protection after installation. The addition of the resilient restoring portion 4037 ensures that the elastic deformation portion has sufficient resilience to return to its pre-deformation state after installation, thereby meeting the fixed connection between the upper cover 403 and the lower seat 401 and preventing loosening.
In some embodiments, the width dimension of the second air vent 102 should be more than or equal to 0.5 times the width dimension of the moisture-permeable component 40, and the height dimension should be more than or equal to 2.5 times the thickness dimension of the moisture-permeable component 40.
For example, a relationship between the air output volume of the second air vent and the humidity and frosting amount of the drawer is as follows:
The maximum frosting amount on the drawer cover is: Q=α*V_drawer*ρ_freshmeat*X ①
where Q represents frosting amount, i.e., the amount of water lost by the food, in grams; α represents a safety factor, with a value of 1.1~1.2, and 1.2 taken in this calculation; V_drawer represents drawer volume in liters, being 20L for the drawer volume in this experiment; ρ_freshmeat represents density of fresh meat being 975g/L; and X represents the amount of water loss, with the current preservation function of the drawer having a water loss of 0.10%.
The water lost by the food in the drawer is replaced through air circulation: Q=V*ρ*(W1-W2) ②
Wherein Q represents frosting amount, i.e., the amount of water lost by the food, in grams; V represents the flow of cold air required to replace excess moisture, in cubic meters; ρ represents air density being 1.41kg/m³ at relative humidity of 100% at -18°C to -25°C; W represents the water content of air being 0.4715g/kg at relative humidity of 100% at -23°C; and W2 represents the water content of air being 0.1158g/kg at relative humidity of 30% at -25°C.
The freezing capacity of the refrigerator in this experiment is: 6.5kg/24h, then the time T required for 20L of fresh meat to reach a frozen state is: T=20975/1000/6.5*24*60=4320min
According to ① and ②, the total amount of air required to replace the water lost by fully loaded fresh meat is:
$V = α * V_{drawer} * ρ_{freshmeat} * X / (ρ * (W 1 - W 2))$
$V = 1.2 * 20 * 975 * 0.001 / (1.41 * (0.4715 - 0.1158)) = 48 m^{3}$
Then the air output volume of the second air vent is: F=V*1000/T =48*1000/4320 =11L/min
In conjunction with FIGS. 1 to 26 shown, the refrigerator of this embodiment further includes a main fan, the drawer assembly is disposed in the inner liner 10, a first air vent 101 of the inner liner is located above the drawer assembly, and the airflow blown from the main fan through the first air vent 101 forms a main air path above the drawer assembly. A second air vent 102 of the inner liner corresponds to the drawer assembly, and the airflow blown from the main fan through the second air vent 102 is configured to form an auxiliary air path in the drawer assembly or to accelerate the airflow velocity of the auxiliary air path.
The top of the drawer assembly is provided with a first ventilation portion 100 and a second ventilation portion 200 that are arranged opposite to each other. Airflow blown from the first air vent or the second air vent flows into the drawer body 20 through the first ventilation portion 100 and flows out from the second ventilation portion 200. The airflow flowing into the drawer body 20 forms an auxiliary air path on the lower surface of the drawer cover 30, and the auxiliary air path is configured to prevent frosting on the lower surface of the moisture-permeable component 40.
The inner side wall of the inner liner 10 is provided with a supply air duct, and the main fan is arranged in the supply air duct. The airflow blown from the main fan flows through the supply air duct and is blown out into the compartment from the first air vent and the second air vent to play a refrigeration role. It should be noted that the airflow blown out from the air vents of the inner liner 10 has the same temperature and humidity. In this text, only the different positions and different functions are distinguished, and the air vents, namely the first air vent 101 and the second air vent 102, are named for convenience of description.
In conjunction with FIG. 22 shown, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a control method for a refrigerator, including the steps S01 to S03.
In step S01, a processor acquires a temperature value inside the drawer assembly when both the first air vent and the second air vent are open for blowing air.
In step S02, the processor acquires a humidity value inside the drawer assembly when the temperature value inside the drawer assembly is higher than a shutdown temperature of the refrigerator, and controls the second air vent to be open or closed according to a comparison between the humidity value of the drawer assembly and a first humidity threshold.
In step S03, the processor controls the main fan to be turned off when the temperature value of the drawer assembly is lower than or equal to the shutdown temperature of the refrigerator.
In the embodiments of the present disclosure, air is blown through the first air vent and the second air vent to cool and refrigerate the compartment where the drawer assembly is located. By meeting different conditions, the opening or closing of the second air vent (i.e., the on/off of the auxiliary air path) is controlled to help regulate the humidity inside the drawer assembly and ensure the preservation effect of the food inside the drawer. Additionally, when the temperature inside the drawer assembly reaches the shutdown temperature, the main fan is controlled to be turned off to help save energy and reduce consumption. Similarly, this can also prevent excessive frosting on the top of the drawer assembly due to excessively low temperatures that would affect the humidity regulation effect.
It should be noted that when the temperature value of the drawer assembly is higher than the shutdown temperature of the refrigerator, it can be understood that the temperature of the drawer assembly has not yet reached the temperature required for the compartment to reach when a compressor shuts down. When the temperature value of the drawer assembly is higher than the shutdown temperature of the refrigerator, the main fan is in an on state, and both the first air vent and the second air vent are also in air-blowing states. In this way, continuous air is blown through the first air vent and the second air vent to cool the compartment, reducing the temperature inside the compartment and the drawer assembly. At this moment, the current humidity value inside the drawer assembly is compared with a first humidity threshold, where the first humidity threshold is the minimum humidity value preset to be achieved inside the drawer assembly. Based on a comparison result, the opening or closing of the second air vent, i.e., the on/off of the auxiliary air path, is controlled, thereby ensuring the humidity requirements inside the drawer assembly.
The main fan is controlled to be turned off when the temperature value of the drawer assembly is lower than or equal to the shutdown temperature of the refrigerator. In this way, the first air vent and the second air vent stop blowing air, preventing the temperature inside the compartment and the drawer assembly from continuously decreasing. This is not only detrimental to energy saving and consumption reduction, but also affects the stability of the humidity environment inside the drawer assembly due to temperature influence.
In some embodiments, acquiring the humidity value inside the drawer assembly when the temperature value of the drawer assembly is higher than the shutdown temperature of the refrigerator, and controlling the second air vent to be open or closed include: controlling the second air vent to be closed when the humidity value of the drawer assembly is lower than or equal to the first humidity threshold.
The first humidity threshold is the minimum humidity value preset to be achieved inside the drawer assembly. When the humidity value of the drawer assembly is lower than or equal to the first humidity threshold, the second air vent is controlled to be closed, i.e., the auxiliary air path is controlled to be disconnected. In this way, airflow can only form weak convection inside the drawer assembly, which can delay the outward permeation of water vapor inside the drawer assembly, i.e., prevent the humidity inside the drawer assembly from decreasing, and ensuring the humidity level inside the drawer assembly.
In some embodiments, acquiring the humidity value inside the drawer assembly when the temperature value of the drawer assembly is higher than the shutdown temperature of the refrigerator, and controlling the second air vent to be open or closed according to the comparison between the humidity value inside the drawer assembly and the first humidity threshold further include: maintaining the second air vent open when the humidity value inside the drawer assembly is higher than the first humidity threshold.
When the humidity value of the drawer assembly is higher than the first humidity threshold, it can be understood that there is still room for the humidity inside the drawer assembly to decrease, and the overall humidity inside the drawer assembly is too high. Especially when the humidity value inside the drawer assembly is higher than the shutdown temperature of the refrigerator, the humidity inside the drawer assembly is too high, which is detrimental to the freezing and preservation effect of the food inside the drawer. At this moment, the second air vent is maintained open, i.e., the auxiliary air path is maintained, the water vapor inside the drawer can be carried away through the auxiliary air path. On one hand, water vapor is prevented from condensing that could affect the moisture-permeable regulation effect of the drawer assembly; and on the other hand, the decrease of humidity inside the drawer can also be accelerated.
In some embodiments, a circulation fan is located above the drawer assembly and forms a circulation air path above it. The circulation fan, when started, forms a circulation air path above the drawer assembly, especially above the moisture-permeable component. In this way, the water vapor on the surface of the moisture-permeable component can be blown away, preventing the risk of ice formation on the surface of the moisture-permeable component due to poor moisture discharge that could affect the moisture preservation effect of the drawer, and eliminating the quality risk of ice formation on the inner walls of the drawer and the drawer cover due to excessive humidity inside the drawer.
In conjunction with FIG. 23 shown, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides another control method for a refrigerator, including the steps S01 to S04.
In step S01, a processor acquires a temperature value inside the drawer assembly when both the first air vent and the second air vent are open for blowing air.
In step S02, the processor acquires a humidity value inside the drawer assembly when the temperature value of the drawer assembly is higher than a shutdown temperature of the refrigerator, and the second air vent is controlled to be open or closed according to a comparison between the humidity value inside the drawer assembly and a first humidity threshold.
In step S03, the processor controls the main fan to be turned off when the temperature value of the drawer assembly is lower than or equal to the shutdown temperature of the refrigerator.
In step S04, the processor acquires the humidity value inside the drawer assembly, and controls the circulation fan to be turned on/off according to the comparison between the humidity value inside the drawer assembly and a second humidity threshold.
It should be noted that the second humidity threshold is the maximum humidity value required inside the drawer assembly.
In the embodiment of the present disclosure, when the main fan is turned off, the circulation fan is controlled to be turned on/off according to a comparison result between the humidity value inside the drawer assembly and the second humidity threshold, so as to further determine whether to help the drawer assembly with humidity regulation when the air supply is shut down.
In some embodiments, controlling the circulation fan to be turned on/off according to the comparison between the humidity value of the drawer assembly and the second humidity threshold includes: controlling the auxiliary fan to be turned on, when the humidity value of the drawer assembly is higher than the second humidity threshold, to generate a circulation air path to carry away the water vapor permeating through the drawer assembly. The main fan is turned off, and the first air vent and the second air vent stop discharging air. When the humidity value of the drawer assembly is higher than the second humidity threshold, the circulation fan 60 is started. The airflow generated by the circulation fan 60 can suck or blow air from the moisture-permeable component 40 of the drawer cover 30, blowing away or carrying away the water vapor on the surface of the moisture-permeable component 40, exchanging it with cold air in the freezer compartment, preventing the risk of ice formation on the surface of the moisture-permeable component 40 due to poor moisture discharge that could affect the moisture preservation effect of the drawer, and eliminating the quality risk of ice formation on the inner walls of the drawer and the drawer cover due to excessive humidity inside the drawer.
In some embodiments, controlling the circulation fan to be turned on/off according to the comparison between the humidity value of the drawer assembly and the second humidity threshold further includes: controlling the auxiliary fan to be turned off when the humidity value of the drawer assembly is lower than or equal to the second humidity threshold. The main fan is turned off, and the first air vent and the second air vent stop discharging air. When the humidity value inside the drawer assembly is lower than or equal to the second humidity threshold, controlling the auxiliary fan to be turned off can prevent the humidity inside the drawer assembly from decreasing and maintain a balanced and stable humidity environment inside the drawer assembly.
In conjunction with FIG. 24 shown, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides another control method for a refrigerator, including the steps S01 to S05.
In step S01, a processor acquires a temperature value inside the drawer assembly when both the first air vent and the second air vent are open for blowing air.
In step S02, the processor acquires a humidity value inside the drawer assembly when the temperature value of the drawer assembly is higher than a shutdown temperature of the refrigerator, and the second air vent is controlled to be open or closed according to a comparison between the humidity value of the drawer assembly and a first humidity threshold.
In step S03, the processor controls the main fan to be turned off when the temperature value of the drawer assembly is lower than or equal to the shutdown temperature of the refrigerator.
In step S04, the processor acquires the humidity value inside the drawer assembly, and controls the circulation fan to be turned on/off according to the comparison between the humidity value of the drawer assembly and a second humidity threshold.
In step S05, the processor acquires a new humidity value inside the drawer assembly when the auxiliary fan is turned on, and controls the circulation fan to be turned on/off according to the comparison between the new humidity value inside the drawer assembly and the second humidity threshold.
In the embodiment of the present disclosure, when the main fan is turned off and the auxiliary fan is turned on, the auxiliary fan is configured to assist in regulating the humidity inside the drawer assembly to reduce the humidity inside the drawer assembly. In this way, after the auxiliary fan is turned on, a new humidity value can be acquired for comparison, and the circulation fan is controlled to be turned on/off according to a result until the circulation fan is turned off, so that the humidity inside the drawer assembly meets the requirements.
In conjunction with FIG. 25 shown, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides another control method for a refrigerator, including the steps S01 to S03.
In step S01, a processor acquires a temperature value inside the drawer assembly when both the first air vent 101 and the second air vent 102 are open for blowing air.
In step S02, the processor acquires a humidity value inside the drawer assembly when the temperature value of the drawer assembly is higher than a shutdown temperature of the refrigerator, and controls the second air vent 102 to be turned on/off according to a comparison between the humidity value of the drawer assembly and a first humidity threshold.
In step S21, controlling the second air vent 102 to be open or closed includes controlling the second air vent 102 to be closed or maintain open. When the second air vent 102 is controlled to be closed or maintain open, the processor acquires a new temperature value inside the drawer assembly, and the second air vent 102 is controlled to be open or closed or the main fan is controlled to be turned on/off again according to the comparison between the new temperature value inside the drawer assembly and the shutdown temperature the refrigerator.
In step S03, the processor controls the main fan to be turned off when the temperature value of the drawer assembly is lower than or equal to the shutdown temperature of the refrigerator.
In the embodiment of the present disclosure, a new temperature value inside the drawer assembly is re-acquired when the second air vent is controlled to be closed or maintain open, and the second air vent is controlled to be open or closed and/or the main fan is controlled to be turned on/off again according to the comparison between the new temperature value inside the drawer assembly and the shutdown temperature of the refrigerator, and the process is repeated in this way, allowing the humidity and temperature inside the drawer assembly to be maintained within a stable range, avoiding affecting the freezing and preservation effect of the food.
In conjunction with FIG. 26 shown, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a control device for a refrigerator, including a processor 1 and a memory 2. In some embodiments, the device may further include a communication interface 3 and a bus 4. The processor, the communication interface, and the memory can complete communication with each other through the bus. The communication interface can be configured for information transmission. The processor can call logical instructions in the memory to implement the control method for the refrigerator described in the above embodiments. Additionally, when the above logical instructions in the memory can be implemented in the form of software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. The memory, as a computer-readable storage medium, can be configured to store a software program and a computer-executable program, such as program instructions/modules corresponding to the method in this embodiment. The processor executes function applications and data processing by running program instructions/modules stored in the memory, thereby performing the control method for the refrigerator in the above embodiments. The memory may include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area may store an operating system and an application program required for at least one function. The data storage area may store data created according to the use of a terminal device. Additionally, the memory may include a high-speed random access memory and may also include a non-volatile memory.
In conjunction with FIGS. 1 to 26 shown, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a refrigerator, including: a refrigerator body, and the above-mentioned control device for the refrigerator. The control device for the refrigerator is installed in the refrigerator body, where the inner liner and the main fan are both disposed in the refrigerator body. The installation relationship described herein is not limited to placing it inside a product, but also includes an installation connection with other components of the product, including but not limited to physical connection, electrical connection, or signal transmission connection. It can be understood by those skilled in the art that the control device for the refrigerator can be adapted to feasible refrigerators, thereby implementing other feasible embodiments.
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions which implement the aforementioned control method for a refrigerator. The computer-readable storage medium may be either a transitory computer-readable storage medium or a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.
The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure may be embodied in the form of a software product. This software product is stored in a storage medium and includes one or more instructions which, when executed by a computing device (which may be a personal computer, a server, a network device, or the like), cause the computing device to perform all or part of the steps of the method described in the embodiments of the present disclosure. The storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium, including a USB flash drive, an external hard drive, a read-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, an optical disc, or other media capable of storing program code. It may also be a transitory storage medium.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the units and algorithmic steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented using electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. Whether such functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art may use different approaches for each particular application to implement the described functions without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for the convenience and conciseness of description, the specific operational processes of the systems, devices, and units described above may refer to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and thus will not be repeated herein.
It should be understood that the methods and products (including, but not limited to, apparatuses, devices, etc.) disclosed herein may be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of units described herein may represent only a logical function division, and in actual implementations, alternative division schemes may be employed-e.g., multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or certain features may be omitted or not executed. Furthermore, the mutual coupling, direct coupling, or communication connection shown or discussed may be an indirect coupling or communication connection through certain interfaces, devices, or units, and may be in electrical, mechanical, or other forms. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated. Components shown as units may or may not be physical units (i.e., may be located in one place, or distributed across multiple network units). Depending on practical requirements, some or all of these units may be selected to implement the embodiments described herein. Moreover, the functional units described in the present disclosure may be integrated into a single processing unit, may exist as physically separate units, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.
The flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings illustrate possible architectures, functions, and operations of the systems, methods, and computer program products according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. In this regard, each block in the flowcharts or block diagrams may represent a module, a segment of a program, or a portion of code comprising one or more executable instructions for implementing a specified logical function. In alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur in an order different from that shown in the drawings. For instance, two consecutive blocks may actually be executed substantially in parallel, or occasionally in reverse order, depending upon the functions involved. In the descriptions corresponding to the flowcharts and block diagrams, the operations or steps associated with different blocks may occur in an order different from that disclosed, and in some cases, no specific order between certain operations or steps is required. Again, depending on the functions involved, two consecutive operations or steps may be executed substantially in parallel or in reverse order. Each block in the block diagrams and/or flowcharts, as well as combinations of such blocks, may be implemented by dedicated hardware-based systems configured to perform the specified functions or actions, or by a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.
The foregoing description and accompanying drawings sufficiently illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure to enable those skilled in the art to practice them. Other embodiments may include structural and other variations. The embodiments represent only possible variations. Unless explicitly required, individual components and functions are optional, and the order of operations may be altered. Features or portions of some embodiments may be incorporated into or substituted for features or portions of other embodiments. The embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the structures described above and shown in the drawings, and various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof. The scope of the present disclosure is defined solely by the appended claims.

Claims

A refrigerator, comprising:
an inner liner, at least having a plurality of air vents; and

a drawer assembly, disposed in the inner liner and comprising a drawer cover and a drawer body slidably connected, the drawer cover being provided with a moisture-permeable component, and a top of the drawer assembly being provided with a first ventilation portion and a second ventilation portion arranged opposite to each other;

wherein an airflow blown from at least one of the plurality of the air vent flows into the drawer body through the first ventilation portion and flows out from the second ventilation portion, wherein the airflow flowing into the drawer body forms an auxiliary air path on a lower surface of the drawer cover, and the auxiliary air path is configured to prevent frosting on a lower surface of the moisture-permeable component.
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the inner liner comprises:
a first air vent, an airflow from the first air vent flowing over an upper surface of the drawer cover to form a main air path, to blow away water vapor permeating through the moisture-permeable component;

wherein the first air vent is configured to discharge air horizontally and is located above the drawer cover.
The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the inner liner further comprises:
a second air vent, located below the first air vent and configured to form the auxiliary air path or to increase airflow velocity of the auxiliary air path.
The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein
when discharging air horizontally, the second air vent corresponds to the first ventilation portion or the second ventilation portion of the drawer assembly, allowing the discharged airflow to flow into the drawer body to form an auxiliary air path; or

when discharging air vertically and downwardly, the second air vent is located above the first ventilation portion or the second ventilation portion of the drawer assembly, and configured to blow away the airflow flowing out from the drawer assembly, increasing pressure differential to accelerate the airflow velocity of the auxiliary air path.
The refrigerator according to claim 3, further comprising:
a damper assembly, disposed at the second air vent and configured to adjust a flow area of the second air vent.
The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein a slide rail is arranged at the second air vent, and the damper assembly comprises:
a damper slide, slidably connected to the slide rail and configured to adjust the flow area of the second air vent, an end portion of the damper slide being provided with a rack portion;

a transmission gear, meshed with the rack portion; and

a motor, disposed in the inner liner, drivingly connected to the transmission gear, and driving the transmission gear to rotate, thereby driving the damper slide to reciprocate linearly, and adjusting the flow area of the second air vent.
The refrigerator according to claim 3, further comprising:
a circulation fan, located above the moisture-permeable component, to start when the first air vent stops discharging air, so as to form a circulation air path to remove moisture on the surface of the moisture-permeable component.
The refrigerator according to claim 7, further comprising:
a humidity sensor, disposed in the drawer body and configured to detect a humidity inside the drawer body;

wherein the humidity sensor is connected to the damper assembly and/or the circulation fan at the second air vent, and the damper assembly and/or the circulation fan are actuated according to a signal from the humidity sensor, so as to maintain the humidity inside the drawer body within a predetermined range.
The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the inner liner further comprises:
a third air vent, located below the second air vent and corresponding to a middle or lower part of the drawer body to rapidly cool the drawer.
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein
the first ventilation portion is formed at a top of the drawer cover, a top of the drawer body, or in a space defined between the drawer cover and the drawer body; and/or

the second ventilation portion is formed at the top of the drawer cover, the top of the drawer body, or in the space defined between the drawer cover and the drawer body.
A control method for a refrigerator, for the refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the refrigerator further comprises a main fan, a first air vent of the inner liner is located above the drawer assembly, and airflow blown from the main fan through the first air vent forms a main air path above the drawer assembly, a second air vent of the inner liner corresponds to the drawer assembly, and airflow blown from the main fan through the second air vent is configured to form an auxiliary air path in the drawer assembly or to accelerate an airflow velocity of the auxiliary air path; and
the control method comprises:
when both the first air vent and the second air vent are open for blowing air, acquiring a temperature value inside the drawer assembly;

when the temperature value of the drawer assembly is higher than a shutdown temperature of the refrigerator, acquiring a humidity value inside the drawer assembly and controlling the second air vent to be open or closed according to a comparison between the humidity value of the drawer assembly and a first humidity threshold; and

when the temperature value of the drawer assembly is lower than or equal to the shutdown temperature of the refrigerator, controlling the main fan to be turned off.
The control method according to claim 11, wherein
the step of, when the temperature value of the drawer assembly is higher than a shutdown temperature of the refrigerator, acquiring a humidity value inside the drawer assembly and controlling the second air vent to be open or closed according to a comparison between the humidity value of the drawer assembly and a first humidity threshold, comprises:
when the humidity value of the drawer assembly is lower than or equal to the first humidity threshold, controlling the second air vent to be closed.
The control method according to claim 12, wherein
the step of, when the temperature value of the drawer assembly is higher than a shutdown temperature of the refrigerator, acquiring a humidity value inside the drawer assembly and controlling the second air vent to be open or closed according to a comparison between the humidity value of the drawer assembly and a first humidity threshold, further comprises:
when the humidity value of the drawer assembly is higher than the first humidity threshold, maintaining the second air vent open.
The control method according to claim 11, wherein the circulation fan is located above the drawer assembly to form a circulation air path above the drawer assembly;
the step of, when the temperature value of the drawer assembly is lower than or equal to the shutdown temperature of the refrigerator, controlling the main fan to be turned off, comprises:
acquiring the humidity value inside the drawer assembly, and controlling the circulation fan to be turned on/off according to a comparison between the humidity value of the drawer assembly and a second humidity threshold.
The control method according to claim 14, wherein:
the step of controlling the circulation fan to be turned on/off according to the comparison between the humidity value of the drawer assembly and THE second humidity threshold comprises:
controlling the auxiliary fan to be turned on when the humidity value of the drawer assembly is higher than the second humidity threshold, to generate a circulation air path to carry away moisture permeating through the drawer assembly.
The control method according to claim 14, wherein
the step of controlling the circulation fan to be turned on/off according to the comparison between the humidity value of the drawer assembly and the second humidity threshold further comprises:
controlling the auxiliary fan to be turned off when the humidity value of the drawer assembly is lower than or equal to the second humidity threshold.
The control method according to claim 15, further comprising:
acquiring a new humidity value inside the drawer assembly when the auxiliary fan is turned on, and controlling the circulation fan to be turned on/off according to the comparison between the new humidity value inside the drawer assembly and the second humidity threshold.
The control method according to any one of claims 11 to 17, wherein controlling the second air vent to be turned on/off comprises controlling the second air vent to be closed or maintain open; and
the control method further comprises acquiring a new temperature value inside the drawer assembly when the second air vent is controlled to be closed or maintain open, and controlling the second air vent to be open or closed and/or the main fan to be turned on/off again according to the comparison between the new temperature value inside the drawer assembly and the shutdown temperature of the refrigerator.
A control device for a refrigerator, comprising a processor and a memory having program instructions stored therein, wherein the processor is configured to execute the control method for a refrigerator according to any one of claims 11 to 18 when the program instructions are executed.