KR100714564B1 - Supercooler and method of operating the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is cooled by the cold air, the space to maintain the internal object in the supercooled state by the supply of energy that prevents the solid phase, the sensing unit for detecting the supercooling release of the space, and in conjunction with the sensing unit heat in the space It relates to a supercooling device and a method of operating the supercooling device using the same, characterized in that it comprises a heater for applying a, thereby to be able to solve the case when the supercooling of the device is released, and also from the device to form energy such as an electric field Can be prevented from leaking to the outside.

Refrigerator, Supercooled, Electric Field, Off, Dispenser, Tray, Heater, Sensor

Description

SUPERCOOLER AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME}

1 is a view showing an example of a refrigerator equipped with a conventional dispenser,

2 is a view showing a transparent ice manufacturing apparatus disclosed in Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-0013721,

3 and 4 are views showing a microwave oven for generating a microwave disclosed in Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-0002271,

5 conceptually illustrates the slush manufacturing according to the present invention;

6 is a view showing one of the experimental results according to the present invention,

7 is a view showing an example of a supercooling apparatus according to the present invention,

8 and 9 are block diagrams illustrating a method of operating a supercooling apparatus according to the present invention;

10 shows another example of experimental results performed in accordance with the present invention.

The present invention relates to a subcooling device and a method of operating the subcooling device, in particular, when the subcooling of the supercooled space is released, it can be eliminated, and the supercooling device and the subcooling, which can prevent external exposure of energy such as an electric field. It relates to a method of operating the device.

Here, subcooling means that a liquid such as water does not transition even below a phase transition temperature to a solid and maintains a high temperature phase, that is, a liquid state. In the natural state, for example, the supercooling water drop (supercooling water drop) is an example, even in the conventional refrigerator, the water or the drink may not be frozen by chance to the supercooled state. Meanwhile, as the principle of subcooling is applied to a refrigerator, there are a freezing method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. S59-151834 and a freezing method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-086967 and a refrigerator. A technique of applying a magnetic field to maintain a food in a supercooled state below a phase transition temperature is disclosed. In addition, the electrostatic field treatment method disclosed in WO / 98/41115 discloses various types of electrode structures that can be used for supercooling and thawing food.

1 is a view illustrating an example of a refrigerator equipped with a conventional dispenser, and the refrigerator 300 includes a freezing compartment 310 and a refrigerating compartment 320. An ice maker 330 is provided in the freezer compartment 310, and a dispenser 350 is provided in the freezer compartment door 340. A flow path 360 for supplying water to the ice maker 330 and the dispenser 350 is formed, the flow path 360 is connected to an external water supply source (not shown), and the flow path 360 has a first valve 370. The filter 380 and the second valve 390 are located. The first valve 370 controls the water supply from the external water supply to the refrigerator 300, the filter 380 filters the water, and the second valve 390 to the ice maker 330 and the dispenser 350. To control the water supply. Meanwhile, the first valve 370 and the second valve 390 are controlled by a control unit (not shown) of the refrigerator 300. The flow path 360 includes a flow path 361 for supplying water to the dispenser 350, and the water in the flow path 361 cools through heat exchange with the freezer compartment 310, so that the outlet 362 of the flow path 361 or It flows out through the outlet part 351 of the dispenser 350.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a transparent ice manufacturing apparatus disclosed in Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2006-0013721. The transparent ice manufacturing apparatus 100 includes a subcooling means 120 using a blade 122, and a subcooling means 120. Method of manufacturing the transparent ice by laminating the super-cooled water made in the small amount to the ice tray 111, the ice making chamber 112, the ice making means 110 equipped with the ejector 113, laminating thin plate ice Is disclosed.

3 and 4 illustrate a microwave oven for generating microwaves disclosed in Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-0002271, which includes a door 400 and a main body 120. The door 400 includes a latch 510 and a latch 520, and the main body 120 includes a switch 710, a switch 720, and a switch 730. By this arrangement, when the door 400 is opened, the generation of microwaves is blocked in a mechanical manner without the help of a control unit.

In the case of the conventional refrigerator disclosed in FIG. 1, it is not provided with a supercooled liquid. In the case of the transparent ice manufacturing apparatus disclosed in FIG. 2, the supercooled water is made using a mechanical method called a blade, and ice making is performed. In the case of a small amount of supercooled water is supplied to make thin plate ice, which is not enough to produce a slush or ice making rapidly, and also the supercooling is released to convert the water into a solid phase, there is no provision for the case of frozen water It is not present.

An object of the present invention is to provide a subcooling device and a method of operating a subcooling device capable of detecting an overcooling release of a subcooling device having a space for keeping an object in a supercooled state. .

The present invention also provides a supercooling device and a method of operating the supercooling device capable of detecting the supercooling release of the subcooling device having a space for keeping the object in the supercooled state, and returning the subcooled object to the supercooling state. The purpose.

The present invention also provides a supercooling device and a method for operating the supercooling device, which can detect the supercooling release of the subcooling device having a space for keeping the object in the supercooled state, and prevent the malfunction of the device that may occur from the subcooling release. It aims to do it.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of operating a supercooling device and a supercooling device that can block the supply of energy when a space for maintaining an object in a supercooled state is opened to the outside using energy such as an electric field or a magnetic field. The purpose.

To this end, the present invention is cooled by the cold air, the space to maintain the internal object in the supercooled state by the supply of energy that prevents the solid state, the detection unit for detecting the overcooling of the space, and the interlocking with the detection unit It provides a supercooling device comprising a heater to apply heat to the space. The release of subcooling means that an object that has not been frozen even when cooled to a phase transition temperature is converted into a solid phase due to interruption of energy supply provided in the form of external force, electric field or magnetic field. In the case of water, the water subcooled to −3 ° C. is converted to a solid phase slush while being converted to 0 ° C., which is a phase transition temperature by the release of subcooling. Therefore, the sensing unit detects such a change in temperature, thereby recognizing the release of supercooling. The change of state of the object also causes a change in the applied electric field, which can be detected by the current sensor. In addition, the supercooling may be released by the interruption of the energy supply, which may be sensed by a sensor for detecting the interruption of the power supply. On the other hand, when the supercooling is released, the object in the slush state may be turned into ice chunks by cold air, thereby stopping the operation of the apparatus, thereby preventing the operation of the apparatus by using a heater to prevent this. The object does not necessarily need to be a liquid, and in the case of vegetables and meats, it can also contain water, so that the same mechanism can be supercooled, so that the present invention can be applied to such an object. At this time, even if the supercooling is eliminated, even if the vegetables and meat are frozen, the operation of the device is not stopped, but it is not preferable that the frozen state lasts for a long time so that the thawing is performed through the heater.

The present invention also provides a supercooling apparatus, characterized in that the object is a supercooled liquid and comprises a tray positioned to receive the supercooled liquid from the space. Through this configuration, the present invention can be applied to the general ice making structure of the refrigerator.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a subcooling apparatus, characterized in that the object is a supercooled liquid, and includes a flow passage having an outlet for receiving the subcooled liquid from the space and outflow. Through this configuration, the present invention can be applied to a general dispenser structure of a refrigerator to supply a supercooled liquid.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a supercooling device, characterized in that the sensor includes a sensor for detecting whether the energy is blocked.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a supercooling device, characterized in that the sensor includes a sensor for sensing the temperature of the space.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a supercooling device comprising a sensor for detecting the opening of the space. The opening of a space means that the door of the space or the space itself is exposed to the outside, and in order to provide a more reliable shielding of energy such as an electric field at the time of opening, or to detect the opening of the space when required by law, the supply of energy A sensor is provided to stop.

In another aspect, the present invention is a power generator for generating cold air, an energy generator for supplying energy to a space, an energy generator comprising a power line and a connecting wire, and a supercooler device positioned to block the wire of the energy generator To provide.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a cold air into the space, the receiving portion is provided with a space, the receiving portion having a door for opening and closing the receiving portion and the power generating the cold air, the energy generator for supplying energy to the space connected to the power source And a breaker positioned to block the wires of the energy generator by detecting an opening of the door.

In another aspect, the present invention includes a power source for generating cold air, and provides a supercooling device, characterized in that the sensing unit includes a means for determining whether the power source is blocked.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a super-cooling device, characterized in that for supplying cold air to the space, the receiving portion is provided with a space, the receiving portion having a door for opening and closing the receiving portion, the door is provided with a display for indicating the release of subcooling to provide.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for operating a supercooling device, including a space for maintaining a supercooled state through supply of coolant and energy, the first step of detecting release of a supercooled state, and applying heat to the space. A second step and a third step of supplying energy to the space provides a method of operating a supercooling device.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of operating a supercooling apparatus comprising the step of determining the temperature of the space, before the third step.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of operating a supercooling device, characterized in that the supply of cold air is cut off.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for operating a supercooling device, characterized in that the first step is to detect the power failure of the supercooling device.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for operating a supercooling device, characterized in that the first step is to detect the interruption of the energy supply.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for operating a supercooling device, characterized in that the first step is to detect the temperature of the space to detect the release of the supercooling state.

Energy may be provided to the object in the form of an electric or magnetic field, but may be provided in any form (e.g., using ultrasound or magnetron) as long as the energy is such that the water remains liquid below the phase transition temperature of the water contained in the object. It is to be understood that the invention encompasses this form of energy.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 conceptually illustrates the manufacture of slush according to the present invention. First, according to the present invention, a liquid 41 to be subjected to subcooling is placed between the electrodes 40. Next, in the state where the cold air 42 is supplied, the electric field is applied to the liquid 41 using the alternating current power supply 43. As a result, the liquid 41 does not freeze below its phase transition temperature (for example, 0 ° C. in the case of water under 1 atm) and maintains a supercooled state. It is known that the freezing of water composed of oxygen and hydrogen is disturbed because the hydrogen bond of water is interrupted by supplying energy such as an electric field. When an external force is applied to the supercooled liquid thus produced through the phase converter 44, for example, an electrical force is applied using an igniter, and the energy or applied energy to the supercooled liquid by this force is applied. The supercooled state maintained by energy (which, depending on the conditions, can be maintained even after the energy is applied for a certain period of time) can be disrupted, forming a freeze nucleus, and the supercooled liquid rapidly converts into a solid phase. As the slush is formed. At this time, the temperature of the supercooled liquid is changed from the temperature of the supercooled state to the phase transition temperature.

The experimental results actually performed according to the present invention are as follows.

1.Installation of electrode and container

Two electrodes 100 mm in length and width were installed at a distance of 200 mm. Then, a container containing 1 L of water was placed at a distance between the two electrodes.

2. Supercooling way

The device was placed in a refrigerator at a temperature of -6.8 ° C and an electric field was applied at 40 kHz, 2 kV. The electric field was applied at the same time as the device was placed in the refrigerator, and when it was judged that the subcooling was sufficiently performed, the supercooled liquid was converted into the solid phase by using a 1500 V electric lighter. The results are shown in FIG.

6 is a view showing one of the experimental results according to the present invention, showing a correlation between the applied power and the temperature of the supercooled liquid. This result shows that both are in a nearly linear proportional relationship, which, under a given ambient temperature (e.g., the temperature of the refrigerator), controls the set temperature of the supercooled liquid by adjusting the power given by the energy generator. That means you can.

7 is a view showing an example of the supercooling apparatus according to the present invention, wherein the freezer compartment door 20 is provided with a bucket 21, a tray 22, and a bank 23 from above. The freezer compartment door 20 includes a latch 20a as a breaker or a sensor for shutting off power supplying cold air when the door is opened. The bucket 21 is for making supercooled water, and is provided with an electrode 21a for applying energy in the form of an electric field as an energy generator, and a flow path 21b is connected to supply water, and water to the bucket 21 is provided. A valve 21c for controlling the supply and a valve 21d for controlling the supercooled water supply to the tray 22 are provided. One side of the bucket 21 is provided with a temperature sensor 21e for measuring the temperature of the supercooled water. In addition, the bucket 21 is provided with a heater 21f to prevent the water from freezing when the supercooling is released. The tray 22 is rotatably installed, and the rotation is controlled by the motor 22a. The tray 22 is preferably made of a conductive material such as aluminum, and is provided with a heater 22b at the bottom thereof for icing. On the other hand, one side of the tray 22 is provided with an electric shock (22c) as a shock generator, the electric shock (22c) is positioned to apply an electric shock to the tray 22 or the supercooled water contained in the tray 22, The supercooled water is converted to a solid phase to slush. The tray 22 is divided into a plurality of compartments by the partition 22d, and grooves are formed in the connecting portion 22e to allow the supercooled liquid to communicate so that the electric shock delivered to a specific point is transmitted to the entire supercooled water. . Under the tray 22 is provided a bank 23, containing slush or ice from the rotated tray 22.

8 and 9 are block diagrams illustrating a method of operating the supercooling apparatus according to the present invention. When the valve 21c is opened, water is supplied to the bucket 21, and the supplied water is cold in the freezer compartment and the electrode 21a. The water is supercooled by the energy in the form of the electric field provided by the operation, and is kept below the phase transition temperature without phase change. By the user's instruction or the temperature measurement of the temperature sensor 21e, the valve 21d is opened and the supercooled water is supplied to the tray 22. The supercooled water freezes without operation of the taser 22c, or is converted to slush by operation of the taser 22c and then frozen, or is converted to slush by operation of the taser 22c, the motor 22a By the operation of the tray 22 is rotated, slush or ice is put in the bank (23). Alternatively, the ejector (not shown) as shown in FIG. 1 may be configured to rotate the motor, and ice may be provided to the bank 23 by operation of the ejector without rotating the tray 22. At this time, when ice is provided to the bank 23, the heater 22d is operated to separate the ice from the tray 22.

When the shock is excessively applied to the freezer compartment door 20, the supply of energy through the electrode 21a is interrupted, or the power supply 29 is cut off by a power failure, the supercooling state in the water tank or the space 21 may be released. This may be detected by the temperature sensor 21e, the current sensor 29a, and the power failure detector 29b. In the case of water, the water subcooled to −3 ° C. is converted to a solid phase slush while being converted to 0 ° C., which is a phase transition temperature by the release of subcooling. Therefore, the temperature sensor 21e detects such a change in temperature, so that the device can recognize the release of the supercooling. This change in state of the object also results in a change in the applied electric field, which can be detected by the current sensor 29a. In addition, the supercooling may be released by the interruption or interruption of the energy supply, which may be detected by the current sensor 29a or the power failure detector 29b provided separately. At this time, the heater 21f is operated for the malfunction of the apparatus due to the release of the supercooling or the return to the supercooling state. This operation is controlled by the control unit.

On the other hand, in order to cut off the power supply 29 supplied to the electrode 21a when the space 21 is opened, a latch 21a is provided as a breaker, whereby the power supply 29 is cut off in a mechanical manner. Of course, a sensor for detecting the opening of the space 21 may be provided, and the power supply 29 may be cut off in cooperation with the control unit. In this case, when the space 21 is configured as the bucket 21 as shown in FIG. 7, since the bucket 21 itself is not opened, the opening of the freezer compartment door 20 and the blocking of the power supply 29 can be interlocked. In addition, when the space 20 itself having the electrode 21a is opened (it has a door or a slide type), the circuit breaker may be provided on the space.

According to the operating method of the subcooling device and the subcooling device according to the present invention, it is possible to detect the supercooling release of the subcooling device having a space for maintaining the object in the subcooled state.

In addition, according to the operating method of the subcooling device and the subcooling device according to the present invention, it is possible to detect the subcooling of the subcooling device having a space for holding the object in the subcooled state, and to return the subcooled object to the subcooling state. .

In addition, according to the operating method of the subcooling device and the subcooling device according to the present invention, it is possible to detect the supercooling release of the subcooling device having a space for maintaining the object in the supercooled state, and to prevent the malfunction of the device that can occur from the subcooling release Will be.

In addition, according to the operating method of the subcooling device and the subcooling device according to the present invention, by using energy such as an electric field or a magnetic field, when the space for holding the object in the supercooled state is opened to the outside to cut off the supply of energy do.

Claims (16)

A space which is cooled by cold air and maintains an internal object in a supercooled state by supply of energy that prevents it from becoming a solid phase; A sensing unit for sensing the supercooling of the space; And, And a heater that applies heat to the space in association with the sensing unit. The method of claim 1, The object is a supercooled liquid And a tray positioned to receive the supercooled liquid from the space. The method of claim 1, The object is a supercooled liquid And a flow passage having an outlet for receiving the subcooled liquid from the space and flowing out of the space. The method of claim 1, Sensing unit; a sensor for sensing whether the energy is blocked; supercooling apparatus comprising a. The method of claim 1, The sensing unit comprises a sensor for sensing the temperature of the space; supercooling apparatus comprising a. The method of claim 1, Sensor for detecting the opening of the space; supercooling apparatus comprising a. The method of claim 1, Power generating cold air; An energy generator for supplying energy to the space, comprising: an energy generator including a wire connected to the power source; And, And a breaker positioned to block the wires of the energy generator. The method of claim 1, Receiving portion for supplying cold air to the space, the space is installed, the receiving portion having a door for opening and closing the receiving portion and the power generating the cold air; An energy generator for supplying energy to the space; the energy generator including a wire connected to a power source; And, And a breaker positioned to block the wire of the energy generator by detecting the opening of the door. The method of claim 1, A power source for generating cold air; Sensing unit; means for determining whether to cut off the power; supercooling apparatus comprising a. The method of claim 1, It includes a receiving portion for supplying cold air to the space, the space is installed, the receiving portion having a door for opening and closing the receiving portion, And a display for displaying the subcooling release in the door. In the method of operating a supercooling device, comprising operating a supercooling device including a space for maintaining a supercooling state through the supply of cold and energy, Detecting a release of the supercooling state; A second step of applying heat to the space; And, The third step of supplying energy to the space; operating method of a supercooling device comprising a. The method of claim 11, Prior to the third step, the step of determining the temperature of the space; operating method of a supercooling apparatus comprising a. The method of claim 11, In the second step, the supply of cold air is cut off. The method of claim 11, The first step is a step of detecting a power failure of the subcooling device. The method of claim 11, The first step is the step of detecting the interruption of the energy supply. The method of claim 11, The first step is a step of sensing the temperature of the space to detect the release of the supercooling state.

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