home · Tool · Automatic shutdown of multi air flow. What is the “No Frost” system? Soda from the refrigerator

Automatic shutdown of multi air flow. What is the “No Frost” system? Soda from the refrigerator

3 June 2006

Many models of modern refrigeration units are characterized by the presence of systems forced circulation air intended for the following purposes:

  • pumping air through an evaporator located outside the refrigerator or freezer chamber to prevent the formation of frost in the chamber itself (No Frost system and its modifications);
  • ensuring uniform air circulation in the volume of the refrigerator or freezer to create a uniform temperature field.

No Frost System

The system of forced air pumping through the evaporator, located outside the freezer, was developed and patented by specialists from the Zerowatt factories, part of the Candy industrial group. Under the name Frost Free, this system can be found in refrigerators brands of the specified group: Candy, Hoover, Iberna. Recently, along with Frost Free by different manufacturers the more generally accepted name No Frost is increasingly being used, and by Frost Free Candy experts mean the system forced ventilation only in the freezer compartment.

The “No Frost” system is shown in the example of an AEG upright freezer in Fig. 1.

Rice. 1 No Frost system of upright freezer:

With the help of fan 1, cold air is evenly distributed throughout the volume of the compartment and carries moisture (which causes the formation of frost) to the evaporator 2 located outside the freezer, where the moisture freezes. The refrigerator's automation periodically defrosts the evaporator (the fan stops running during this time), the melt water flows into tray 6 and evaporates. This prevents ice from forming in the freezer compartment and eliminates the need for defrosting.

A number of models have a system of channels for supplying air not only to the freezer, but also to the refrigerator compartment (Fig. 2.).

Rice. 2. No Frost system of a two-chamber refrigerator.

To designate such a scheme, the terms Total No Frost, Full No Frost are used.

The presence of the “No Frost” system leads to increased energy consumption of the refrigerator compared to static system cooling. In table 1 shows the parameters of models that are similar in chamber volume, but differ in the cooling system. It can be seen that the appearance of the “No Frost” system lowers the energy consumption class of the model by 1 - 3 steps. A slight reduction in the volume of the freezer compartment is also noticeable due to the installation of the “No Frost” system.

Table 1. Energy consumption parameters of refrigerators with static cooling system and No Frost system
Brand Model Refrigeration volume/
freezer compartment, l
System
cooling
Energy consumption, kWh/year Energy class
Indesit RG 2330 W 265/75 Static 441 B
Indesit RG 2330 NF 265/60 No Frost 620 E
Siemens KG 36 E 04 237/90 Static 350 A
Siemens KK 33 U 01 237/74 No Frost 412 B
Freezers
AEG OKO-Arctis Super 2772 GS 262 Static 329 B
AEG OKO-Arctis Super 2794 GA 261 No Frost 460 C

A disadvantage of the “No Frost” system is also that the pattern of air flows in the chamber and, consequently, the efficiency of washing off its various zones with a cold stream depends on the degree and nature of the refrigerator’s loading with products. The “No Frost” system imposes certain requirements on product packaging, since in the absence of packaging, forced air circulation leads to dehydration of products.

Some manufacturers install independent “No Frost” systems in the freezer and refrigerator compartments. In Fig. 3 and 4 show the Twin Cooling System diagrams Samsung for options for independent cooling of the refrigerator and freezer in side-by-side layouts (Fig. 2, a) with top (Fig. 3, b) and bottom position freezer (Fig. 4).


Rice. 3
Samsung Twin Cooling System:
a) in a side-by-side refrigerator; b) in a device with a top freezer

Rice. 4 Samsung Twin Cooling System
in a device with a bottom freezer compartment

Examples of refrigeration units with the “No Frost” system in both compartments: Samsung SR-S27FTA, SR-S25FTA, SR-S24FTA, SR-L678EV, SR-L628EV; Ariston ETDF 450 XNF; Whirlpool ARG 497, ARG 477 DD, ARG 468 DD.

Air circulation systems in departments

To solve the problem of creating a uniform temperature field in the refrigerator or freezer compartments, manufacturing companies are improving the organization of air flows.

In Fig. Figure 5 shows the Samsung Super-X-Flow system, which is a vertical screw fan installed on the rear wall of the refrigerator compartment and creates vortex air flows, the axis of which is directed vertically.

Rice. 5 Samsung Super-X-Flow system

In Fig. 6 shows the Air Shower system of the same company, which creates an “air shower” in the freezer. According to Samsung, thanks to the air shower, the speed of freezing food in the chamber doubles: the freezing time in a regular chamber is 166.3 minutes, and in a chamber with an “air shower” - 86.5 minutes.

Rice. 6 Air system Shower from Samsung

The Super-X-Flow and Air Shower systems are installed together, for example, in refrigerator models such as Samsung SR-V57 and SR-52NXA, and only the Super-X-Flow system is installed in models SR-39NXB, SR-L678EV, SR( G)-V43, SR(G)-V39 and others.

A number of manufacturing companies are developing systems for organizing multi-level flows in refrigerator compartment. Samsung has this Multi-Flow system (Fig. 7), which is equipped with refrigerators with a double cooling system.

Rice. 7 Samsung Multi-Flow System

The Merloni Elettrodomestici company installs the A.I.R. (Ariston Integrated Refrigeration) system in Ariston brand refrigerators (Fig. 8), which allows you to maintain a constant temperature throughout the volume of the refrigerator compartment and quickly restore the temperature in it, even with frequent opening of the door.

Rice. 8 A.I.R. system from Merloni Elettrodomestici S.p.A.:

As shown in Fig. 8, the flow of cooled air A is directed downward, and warm air B enters the annular air intake from above. The presence of a forced ventilation system in the refrigeration compartment is reflected by the letter V in the model designation, for example: Ariston ERFV 402 X, ERFV 383 X, EDFV 450 X.

A similar purpose is served by the forced air circulation system in the refrigerator compartment DAC (Dynamic Air Cooling), used in Zanussi Rondo series refrigerators (Fig. 9)

Rice. 9

And also a forced ventilation system from VEKO (Fig. 10), used, for example, in the VEKO NCH 5010 refrigerator.

Rice. 10 VEKO forced air circulation system

Good luck with the renovation!

The article was prepared based on materials from the publication “Refrigerator Repair” published by SOLON-Press series « repair » №35

All the best, writeto © 2005

In the section on the question Refrigerators with Full No Frost and Multi Air Flow asked by the author Yatyana Kim the best answer is These functions do not affect the amount of electricity consumed at all. When buying a refrigerator, pay attention to the power consumption class; you need to choose class A. Refrigerators of this class are energy saving.
I have a Bosch KDN 32A71, energy consumption class “A”, NoFrost system in the freezer, it works great, no complaints. By the way, I am very pleased with the know frost function. Previously, defrosting a refrigerator was like hard labor for me... it's all over)))

Answer from Anna Matsaeva[expert]
The most important thing is that at night you can pick up more tasty things and the rest is nonsense


Answer from Olga Deryabina[newbie]
Both the drip type and know frost have energy efficiency class A (A+), which means that they consume the same amount of electricity. Progress does not stand still. I remember those times when I couldn’t open the freezer because of the ice in there, now I’ve forgotten what it means to defrost, only mine. By the way, Bosch also has a drip type, if you are so afraid to buy a new product.


Answer from Andrey Ruban[newbie]
We use a refrigerator from Kurpersbusch, model IKEF 3080-2 Z3. I highly recommend it. A premium segment refrigerator, made of very high quality and thoughtfully. Everything for convenience, automatic defrosting, dynamic cooling. 3 temperature zones, and looks very stylish. In general, there are a lot of pros, but we haven’t found any cons.


Artificial intelligence

Exactly - artificial intelligence– some manufacturers call the refrigerator’s ability to independently control and change the intensity of its operation, depending on operating conditions. In simple words, the electronics of the refrigerator periodically measures the ambient temperature, temperature and humidity inside the refrigerator and, based on this, most effectively organizes the operation of the compressor (change in power, on-off). This allows you to always maintain optimal temperature and humidity in the refrigerator and freezer compartments for high-quality food storage. In addition, it helps to save electricity.

For the Japanese, things are a little more complicated. Panasonic refrigerators use ECONAVI technology. Let's just say that electronics analyze information from various sensors over the course of two to three weeks, about how often the owners open the refrigerator doors, at what time of day this happens more intensely, into which zones of the refrigerator more products are loaded, it also takes into account temperature conditions in the room where the refrigerator is located. Then, based on his own observations, he optimizes the operation of the refrigerator - again, correctly building the compressor operation algorithm, saving (when possible) electricity and, conversely, increasing the speed during the greatest “food” activity of users. A similar technology in Mitsubishi Electric refrigerators is called Neuro Fuzzy.

Refrigerators of various brands with intelligent systems Temperature and humidity controls can be purchased in Russia.

Against odors and bacteria

Various smells, sometimes not the most pleasant ones, are eternal companions of food storage. They may also appear in the refrigerator. To get rid of them faster, modern models there are filters through which air passes (a fan usually helps with this). As a rule, filters are carbon, adsorbing, absorbing odors. Everything, in general, is quite simple, but quite effective - odors are removed. Filters, however, need to be changed sometimes, but it’s better than an unpleasant smell in the refrigerator.

It’s not always limited to just absorbing odors. carbon filter. Often along with it there are also filters that serve other purposes. The same Hygiene Fresh technology from LG, for example, is based on the passage of air through a four-layer filter cartridge, which also fights fungi and bacteria.

Other manufacturers not only filter the air in the refrigerator, but also strive to disinfect it, and therefore reduce the likelihood of the development of “wrong” bacteria, which lead to the appearance of an unpleasant odor (rotting). This is done using air ionization.

The air ionizer in the refrigerator fills its interior with so-called active oxygen, negatively charged particles (ions), which partially neutralize harmful bacteria, as well as fungus and mold spores. Active oxygen destroys unpleasant odors in the refrigerator and prevents fresh food from absorbing them. The shelf life of foods stored in a refrigerator with an ionizer increases. But, of course, you shouldn’t expect that, for example, preserved vegetables or fruits will remain fresh for a month. Usually this is an increase of 2-3 days, which is very good for fresh products.

Sometimes, as in the case of Panasonic, disinfecting air filtration is also used, based on the antibacterial properties of silver (Panasonic's Ag-Clean technology). The coating of the internal walls of the refrigerator can also have disinfecting properties (also “silver” technologies).

Refrigerators different brands With various systems Air purifications in the internal space are also available in domestic stores.

"Hot" freezing

It is known that it is very undesirable to put hot foods in the refrigerator - this will increase the temperature inside it, which is not only bad for other products, but also leads to an increase in energy consumption (how to save when using household appliances we told you earlier). First, it is recommended to cool the products until room temperature. This is true for most refrigerators, but not Mitsubishi Electric.

This manufacturer has models with the Versa universal chamber, in which you can freeze hot foods. The technology is called Hot Freezeeng. Sensors detect the temperature of hot products, which are exposed to a direct flow of cold air. This method of freezing saves time and, according to the manufacturer, preserves the taste of the products. The design of the compartment includes a double flap door, so that all the heat will remain inside this chamber. By the way, the Versa is called a universal chamber because it can also activate the mode of fast deep freezing of products, gentle freezing (products, for example, sauces, do not turn into one piece of ice, but retain a soft consistency), and it can also be used as a regular freezer box.

Mitsubishi Electric refrigerators with Versa and Hot Freezeeng are sold in our country.

Such a different freshness

The freshness zone is a common solution; many modern refrigerators have it. This may be one or two containers in the refrigerator compartment, but it is better if the freshness zone is separated into a separate chamber with its own door - it is easier to maintain optimal temperature settings and the desired level of humidity. This is precisely the point - the correct temperature and humidity for high-quality storage of certain products.

For chilled fresh meat, fish, seafood, and some cheeses, the desired temperature is -1-0°C, and the humidity level is 50-60%. Under such conditions, their shelf life increases - this is the so-called dry freshness zone. But for storing vegetables, fruits, berries and herbs, the ideal temperature is 0-2°C and a humidity level of 90-95% - a zone of moist freshness. Most often, control of the humidity level in freshness zones is carried out mechanically (you open or close special dampers on containers), but there are models where this responsibility is assigned to electronics.

Today on sale, including in our country, you can find many refrigerators with freshness zones different designs. The pioneer of introducing a freshness zone into a refrigerator was the Liebherr company, which back in 1996 introduced the BioFresh storage system with temperature maintenance from -1-3°C and the ability to adjust it within this range, as well as with humidity control.

Freshness zones various manufacturers are called differently:

  • HydroFresh in refrigerators of the BSH concern (Bosch, Siemens, Neff);
  • NaturaFresh in Electrolux refrigerators;
  • FreshZone in Gorenje models;
  • Panasonic's Chilled Room;
  • Opti fresh zone from LG;
  • Fresh room or CoolSelect Zone (freshness zone with five operating modes) from Samsung;
  • FreshStor Active 0°C in Whirlpool refrigerators.

It's not just temperature and humidity settings in individual containers that can help keep food fresh longer. There are other ways. For example, LG refrigerators have a special Vita Light lighting in the box for vegetables and fruits; according to the manufacturer, LEDs create lighting in their spectrum similar to that of the sun (photosynthesis continues), which promotes better conservation vitamin C in products, as well as increasing their shelf life.

Maintaining optimal level Humidity for storing fruits and vegetables is facilitated by the cellular lid of the container for them - LG Moist Balance CISPER technology. Condensation collects in special cells of the container lid (“honeycombs”), and in a much smaller volume falls on the products (than in the case of a regular smooth lid), and it evaporates slowly. As a result, there is no overmoistening of the products, which helps to accelerate the decay process, but there is also no lack of moisture - this is good for appearance And taste qualities fruits and vegetables.

LG refrigerators with Vita Light and Moist Balance CISPER are easy to find in Russian stores.

Cold everywhere

It is important that the cooled air is evenly distributed throughout the refrigerator and supplied to each shelf. This is especially true for refrigerators with glass shelves(they are now the majority) - after all, they are an obstacle to its circulation. Manufacturers solved this problem by installing multi-threaded cooling in refrigerators. The idea is that cooled air, driven by one or more built-in fans, passes through special slots in the rear wall of the refrigerator compartment, located at different levels and is supplied to each shelf, which minimizes the temperature difference between the lower and upper segments of the compartment (the temperature at the top always higher). Multi-flow cooling is available in refrigerators of various brands; there are no problems with purchasing them in Russia.

Vacuum storage

It has long been known that food lasts longer in a vacuum. For example, special containers are sold from which air is pumped out (then, by the way, it is advisable to put them in the refrigerator). But the Germans from Siemens implemented this storage method directly in refrigerators. That’s what the innovation was called – Vacuum technology. The product is placed in a special container (it is part of the refrigerator), and by pressing a button the air is pumped out of the container. As a result, freshness without contact with air is maintained approximately 5 times longer than when stored under normal conditions, the manufacturer claims. This camera is especially useful for long-term storage chilled meat or fish.

Alas, models with Vacuum technology are not yet available in Russia, and they are not available in Europe either. But the Germans, according to BSH representatives, successfully sell them in China.

Of course, not only refrigerator manufacturers from Germany thought of organizing a vacuum in the refrigerator; the Koreans are not far behind. For example, in LG refrigerators a similar freshness preservation technology is called Vacuum Fresh.

Soda from the refrigerator

It won't surprise anyone that modern refrigerator can pour a glass cold water. It can make both ice cubes and crushed ice - it all depends on the capabilities of the built-in ice maker. But until recently refrigerators didn’t stock soda. This feature was implemented in their models by the Koreans from Samsung Electronics, together with the company SodaStream. Now the user can even select the degree of carbonation. You press the button and you get a glass of cool sparkling water. The gas cylinder is installed in a special chamber in the refrigerator door. The function is optional, but, you see, it’s nice.

Samsung refrigerators that dispense soda can also be purchased in Russia.

Two circuits

Trend recent years– refrigerators with separate cooling circuits for the freezer and refrigeration compartments: one compressor, and two air circulation systems (two evaporators, two fans). This allows you to improve the energy efficiency of the refrigerator, more accurately maintain desired temperature in the compartments, has a positive effect on the level of humidity in the refrigerator compartment (drier air does not enter from the freezer, better conditions storage), and also eliminates the possibility of mixing odors of products located in different compartments.

Refrigerators with double cooling circuits are sold all over the world, including our country.

Refrigerator Vacations

How was it before? I plugged in the refrigerator and both compartments – the refrigerator and the freezer – work. Turned it off - both do not work. Today everything is different. In many refrigerators, when you go, for example, on a business trip or vacation, you can leave the freezer operating in normal mode and switch the refrigerator compartment to economical mode. At the same time, let the food remain in the freezer, but in the refrigerator compartment the temperature will be about 15°C, which will save it from mold and unpleasant odors, but will require release from the contents. Usually this mode in refrigerators is called “Holidays” or “Vacation”.

The “Vacation” mode is available in many refrigerators today, including those presented in Russian stores.

If the refrigerator has two compressors, the user can completely turn off any compartment, regardless of the other. This can also be useful: both in case of travel, and if there is simply no need for a certain period of time, for example, in a freezer.

Double door

LG has refrigerators with Door-in-Door technology. The idea is that there is a smaller door in the main door of the refrigerator compartment. It opens with a light press of a button and provides access to a fairly spacious box where you can store anything you want - you want what is usually stored in a minibar, or you just want the products that you most often need during the day. It is possible baby food, basically, whatever you want. Additional convenience - a basket with lifting mechanism combined with a convenient compartment with a pull-out drawer. It's not just a matter of quick access and no need to search for the right jar in a large refrigerator. This approach also saves electricity - after all, the main door does not open, not so much air at room temperature enters the refrigerator, and less energy is spent on lowering the temperature to the optimal level.

Other Koreans - from Samsung - also did not ignore the refrigerator doors. They probably did it on a larger scale, although it was similar in meaning. Refrigerators with the Food Showcase food storage system also have a kind of first door - you open it and in front of you is, as it were, an external refrigeration compartment: 6 compartments for storing food different types(cheese, sausage, drinks, sandwiches, baby food and others). In addition, this space is divided into 3 zones in which you can store products for different purposes: for cooking, for the whole family, for children, etc. This approach, again, makes it easier to find what you need in the refrigerator and saves electricity - less warm air gets inside the refrigerator.

LG Door-in-Door and Samsung Food Showcase models are also sold in Russia.

Modern compressor

Some refrigerators (for example, LG, including models available in the Russian Federation) are today equipped with linear compressors with inverter control power. The advantages, in short, are that a linear compressor has fewer moving parts, fewer points friction. Instead of circular movements of the crankshaft and connecting rod of a conventional compressor, there is movement, let’s say, in a straight line: there is no crankshaft and connecting rod in a linear compressor at all. Higher reliability and energy efficiency, it is more durable.

The main difference between a linear compressor and all those traditionally used in household refrigerators- absence of a link that converts the rotation of the electric motor rotor into the movement of the piston mechanism. IN linear compressors The pistons themselves move under the influence of an electromagnetic field.

Inverter control of refrigerator compressor power is now implemented in models from many manufacturers, including those sold in our country. As in an air conditioner, this allows the compressor to work not discretely, turning on and off (which is why the greatest wear occurs), but smoothly increasing or decreasing power, depending on the need (maintaining the temperature set by the user in the refrigerator compartments). The noise level is also lower.

No defrosting

It would be wrong not to recall in this material the system of automatic defrosting of the refrigerator (or rather, freezing without frost) - No Frost. Still, this is a revolutionary innovation - it ends the era of manual defrosting of refrigerators (remember this fight against ice in the freezer using saucepans with hot water?). Thanks for No Frost we must say to Liebherr, a famous European manufacturer of refrigerators.

The Germans introduced this technology into their refrigerators back in 1987. Of course, frost still appears on the evaporator. The user just doesn’t see it and doesn’t have any contact with it: the evaporator is located behind back wall freezers. The built-in fan circulates air in the freezer, most of moisture from it condenses on the cold evaporator, becoming frost, which is why there is no ice directly in the freezer. Next to the evaporator is a heating element, which is cyclically turned on and off by a timer signal. When the heater is working, the frost melts, and the water flows through a special channel into a bath intended for it above the compressor and gradually evaporates. In most refrigerators of different brands, this technology is called No Frost; today it is widespread and represented in markets all over the world, including the Russian one.

Previously, only refrigerator freezers could boast of No Frost. The refrigerator compartment usually had a drip defrost system (static). But today there are quite a few models where No Frost is everywhere (but, of course, there is still one in the refrigerator compartment temperature regime). LG calls this approach Total No Frost and is based on the symbiosis of the evaporator located behind the rear wall and technology multi-threaded cooling(forced air circulation) Multi-Air Flow Cooling System.

If there is No Frost in the refrigerator, then the air in it is very dry. Therefore, food quickly airs and dries out, so you only need to store them, both in the freezer and in the refrigerator compartment, in packaging or in special containers.

Almost no defrosting

Unlike No Frost, Low Frost technology can be called relatively new; it began to be promoted two or three years ago. It is implemented, for example, in Bosch and Siemens refrigerators. It is important not to confuse these technologies. Low Frost is a new solution in the design of the evaporator: it is located not only along the entire perimeter of the freezer compartment (behind its rear wall), but also on the side and top behind the walls of the freezer. This helps to avoid temperature changes in the freezer, which leads to a noticeable reduction in the amount of ice inside it. That is, this is not No Frost; a freezer with Low Frost technology needs to be defrosted, but, according to the manufacturer, not more than once a year, because very little ice is formed. Actually, Low Frost translated from English means “little frost,” while No Frost means “no frost.” The Low Frost system is also found, for example, in Zanussi refrigerators. It is possible to purchase such models in Russia.

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Source: hi-tech.mail.ru

On modern market Among household appliances, fewer and fewer refrigerators with a manual defrosting system are sold. The refrigerator compartment in modern units is almost always equipped with an automatic defrosting system. This system can work in two ways: either to prevent the formation of a “snow cap” at all, or to gradually defrost it. Refrigerators of the first type are usually called “windy”, and models of the second type are called “crying”.

"WINDY" refrigerators: No Frost or Multi Air Flow.

“Windy” refrigerators usually provide forced circulation of cold air. Numerous multidirectional air flows are distributed throughout the entire volume of the chamber and create conditions for rapid and uniform cooling of products.

The moisture is removed outside the chamber, so it does not condense on the walls of the refrigerator, and additional manual defrosting is not required.

Different manufacturers will improve and modify in different ways automatic systems defrost and give them various names. The most common term used in descriptions of models from different companies is " Multi-threaded system cooling" - Multi Air Flow, which means cooling the chamber with many multidirectional flows of cold air.

A chamber cooled in this way maintains a more uniform temperature and humidity. In modern units, the fan is usually hidden from view and located on the rear panel of the refrigerator, although depending on the manufacturer it may also be located between the refrigerator and freezer compartments, in top panel and even be built into the door (for example, a cooling system from doors - developed by LG).

Some manufacturers protect products from the penetration of warmer air from outside using an “air curtain” system, which creates a uniform vertical flow of cold air between the door and the interior of the refrigerator (an example is Daеwoo refrigerators).

"CRYING" refrigerators: Drip system.

"Crying" refrigerators work on a different principle. In such models, every time the compressor stops, moisture condenses on the back wall of the chamber and flows in drops along the guide channel into a special container located above the unit, where the moisture evaporates. At the same time, the refrigerator compartment maintains high humidity, and the food does not dry out.

The frequency and duration of defrosting cycles depend on the setting of the thermostat knob, the load of food in the refrigerator, and the temperature environment. As a rule, there is no need to defrost the refrigerator compartment in such models.

But, since at sub-zero temperatures condensate freezes and turns into frost, freezer requires periodic defrosting (with an average load of products - approximately 2-3 times a year).

Sometimes both systems are present in one model: in such cases, the freezer is equipped with a fan that ensures constant circulation of cold air and prevents frost from freezing on the walls, and cooling chamber automatically defrosts using a “crying” wall.

Artificial intelligence

This is exactly what some manufacturers call artificial intelligence: the ability of a refrigerator to independently control and change the intensity of its operation, depending on operating conditions. In simple words, the electronics of the refrigerator periodically measures the ambient temperature, temperature and humidity inside the refrigerator and, based on this, most effectively organizes the operation of the compressor (change in power, on-off). This allows you to always maintain optimal temperature and humidity in the refrigerator and freezer compartments for high-quality food storage. In addition, it helps to save electricity.

For the Japanese, things are a little more complicated. Panasonic refrigerators use ECONAVI technology. Let’s just say that electronics analyzes information from various sensors over the course of two to three weeks, about how often the owners open the refrigerator doors, at what time of day this happens more intensely, into which zones of the refrigerator more products are loaded, and also takes into account the temperature conditions in the room, where is the refrigerator located? Then, based on his own observations, he optimizes the operation of the refrigerator - again, correctly building the compressor operation algorithm, saving (when possible) electricity and, conversely, increasing the speed during the greatest “food” activity of users. A similar technology in Mitsubishi Electric refrigerators is called Neuro Fuzzy.

Refrigerators of various brands with intelligent temperature and humidity control systems can be purchased in Russia.

Against odors and bacteria

Various smells, sometimes not the most pleasant ones, are eternal companions of food storage. They may also appear in the refrigerator. To get rid of them faster, modern models have filters through which air passes (a fan usually helps with this). As a rule, filters are carbon, adsorbing, absorbing odors. Everything, in general, is quite simple, but quite effective - odors are removed. Filters, however, need to be changed sometimes, but it’s better than an unpleasant smell in the refrigerator.

It’s not always just an odor-absorbing carbon filter. Often along with it there are also filters that serve other purposes. The same Hygiene Fresh technology from LG, for example, is based on the passage of air through a four-layer filter cartridge, which also fights fungi and bacteria.

Other manufacturers not only filter the air in the refrigerator, but also strive to disinfect it, and therefore reduce the likelihood of the development of “wrong” bacteria, which lead to the appearance of an unpleasant odor (rotting). This is done using air ionization.

The air ionizer in the refrigerator fills its interior with so-called active oxygen, negatively charged particles (ions), which partially neutralize harmful bacteria, as well as fungus and mold spores. Active oxygen destroys unpleasant odors in the refrigerator and prevents fresh food from absorbing them. The shelf life of foods stored in a refrigerator with an ionizer increases. But, of course, you shouldn’t expect that, for example, preserved vegetables or fruits will remain fresh for a month. Usually this is an increase of 2-3 days, which is very good for fresh products.

Sometimes, as in the case of Panasonic, disinfecting air filtration is also used, based on the antibacterial properties of silver (Panasonic's Ag-Clean technology). The coating of the internal walls of the refrigerator can also have disinfecting properties (also “silver” technologies).

Refrigerators of different brands with different air purification systems in the internal space are also available in domestic stores.

"Hot" freezing

It is known that it is very undesirable to put hot foods in the refrigerator - this will increase the temperature inside it, which is not only bad for other products, but also leads to an increase in energy consumption (we talked about this earlier). First, it is recommended to cool the products to room temperature. This is true for most refrigerators, but not Mitsubishi Electric.

This manufacturer has models with the Versa universal chamber, in which you can freeze hot foods. The technology is called Hot Freezeeng. Sensors detect the temperature of hot products, which are exposed to a direct flow of cold air. This method of freezing saves time and, according to the manufacturer, preserves the taste of the products. The design of the compartment includes a double flap door, so that all the heat will remain inside this chamber. By the way, the Versa is called a universal chamber because it can also activate the mode of fast deep freezing of products, gentle freezing (products, for example, sauces, do not turn into one piece of ice, but retain a soft consistency), and it can also be used as a regular freezer box.

Mitsubishi Electric refrigerators with Versa and Hot Freezeeng are sold in our country.

Such a different freshness

The freshness zone is a common solution; many modern refrigerators have it. This may be one or two containers in the refrigerator compartment, but it is better if the freshness zone is separated into a separate chamber with its own door - it is easier to maintain optimal temperature settings and the desired level of humidity. This is precisely the point - the correct temperature and humidity for high-quality storage of certain products.

For chilled fresh meat, fish, seafood, and some cheeses, the desired temperature is -1-0°C, and the humidity level is 50-60%. Under such conditions, their shelf life increases - this is the so-called dry freshness zone. But for storing vegetables, fruits, berries and herbs, the ideal temperature is 0-2°C and a humidity level of 90-95% - a zone of moist freshness. Most often, control of the humidity level in freshness zones is carried out mechanically (you open or close special dampers on containers), but there are models where this responsibility is assigned to electronics.

Today on sale, including in our country, you can find many refrigerators with freshness zones of different designs. The pioneer of introducing a freshness zone into a refrigerator was the Liebherr company, which back in 1996 introduced the BioFresh storage system with temperature maintenance from -1-3°C and the ability to adjust it within this range, as well as with humidity control.

Freshness zones are called differently by different manufacturers:

  • HydroFresh in refrigerators of the BSH concern (Bosch, Siemens, Neff);
  • NaturaFresh in Electrolux refrigerators;
  • FreshZone in Gorenje models;
  • Panasonic's Chilled Room;
  • Opti fresh zone from LG;
  • Fresh room or CoolSelect Zone (freshness zone with five operating modes) from Samsung;
  • FreshStor Active 0°C in Whirlpool refrigerators.

It's not just temperature and humidity settings in individual containers that can help keep food fresh longer. There are other ways. For example, LG refrigerators have a special Vita Light lighting in the box for vegetables and fruits; according to the manufacturer, LEDs create lighting in their spectrum similar to that of the sun (photosynthesis continues), which helps to better preserve vitamin C in products, as well as increase their shelf life .

The honeycomb lid of the container for them - LG Moist Balance CISPER technology - helps maintain the optimal level of humidity for storing fruits and vegetables. Condensation collects in special cells of the container lid (“honeycombs”), and in a much smaller volume falls on the products (than in the case of a regular smooth lid), and it evaporates slowly. As a result, there is no overmoistening of the products, which helps to accelerate the decay process, but there is also no lack of moisture - this is good for the appearance and taste of fruits and vegetables.

LG refrigerators with Vita Light and Moist Balance CISPER are easy to find in Russian stores.

Cold everywhere

It is important that the cooled air is evenly distributed throughout the refrigerator and supplied to each shelf. This is especially true for refrigerators with glass shelves (the majority of them now) - after all, they are an obstacle to its circulation. Manufacturers solved this problem by installing multi-threaded cooling in refrigerators. The idea is that cooled air, driven by one or more built-in fans, passes through special slots in the rear wall of the refrigerator compartment, located at different levels and is supplied to each shelf, which minimizes the temperature difference between the lower and upper segments of the compartment (the temperature at the top always higher). Multi-flow cooling is available in refrigerators of various brands; there are no problems with purchasing them in Russia.

Vacuum storage

It has long been known that food lasts longer in a vacuum. For example, special containers are sold from which air is pumped out (then, by the way, it is advisable to put them in the refrigerator). But the Germans from Siemens implemented this storage method directly in refrigerators. That’s what the innovation was called – Vacuum technology. The product is placed in a special container (it is part of the refrigerator), and by pressing a button the air is pumped out of the container. As a result, freshness without contact with air is maintained approximately 5 times longer than when stored under normal conditions, the manufacturer claims. This chamber is especially useful for long-term storage of chilled meat or fish.

Alas, models with Vacuum technology are not yet available in Russia, and they are not available in Europe either. But the Germans, according to BSH representatives, successfully sell them in China.

Of course, not only refrigerator manufacturers from Germany thought of organizing a vacuum in the refrigerator; the Koreans are not far behind. For example, in LG refrigerators a similar freshness preservation technology is called Vacuum Fresh.

Soda from the refrigerator

It won’t surprise anyone that a modern refrigerator can pour a glass of cold water. It can make both ice cubes and crushed ice - it all depends on the capabilities of the built-in ice maker. But until recently refrigerators didn’t stock soda. This feature was implemented in their models by the Koreans from Samsung Electronics, together with the company SodaStream. Now the user can even select the degree of carbonation. You press the button and you get a glass of cool sparkling water. The gas cylinder is installed in a special chamber in the refrigerator door. The function is optional, but, you see, it’s nice.

Samsung refrigerators that dispense soda can also be purchased in Russia.

Two circuits

The trend in recent years is refrigerators with separate cooling circuits for the freezer and refrigerator compartments: one compressor, and two air circulation systems (two evaporators, two fans). This allows you to improve the energy efficiency of the refrigerator, more accurately maintain the desired temperature in the compartments, has a positive effect on the level of humidity in the refrigerator compartment (drier air does not enter from the freezer, better storage conditions), and also eliminates the possibility of mixing odors of products that are in different compartments.

Refrigerators with double cooling circuits are sold all over the world, including our country.

Refrigerator Vacations

How was it before? I plugged in the refrigerator and both compartments – the refrigerator and the freezer – work. Turned it off - both do not work. Today everything is different. In many refrigerators, when you go, for example, on a business trip or vacation, you can leave the freezer operating in normal mode and switch the refrigerator compartment to economical mode. At the same time, let the food remain in the freezer, but in the refrigerator compartment the temperature will be about 15°C, which will save it from mold and unpleasant odors, but will require emptying it of its contents. Usually this mode in refrigerators is called “Holidays” or “Vacation”.

The “Vacation” mode is available in many refrigerators today, including those presented in Russian stores.

If the refrigerator has two compressors, the user can completely turn off any compartment, regardless of the other. This can also be useful: both in case of travel, and if there is simply no need for a certain period of time, for example, in a freezer.

Double door

LG has refrigerators with Door-in-Door technology. The idea is that there is a smaller door in the main door of the refrigerator compartment. It opens with a light press of a button and provides access to a fairly spacious box where you can store anything you want - you want what is usually stored in a minibar, or you just want the products that you most often need during the day. You can also have baby food, basically whatever you want. Additional convenience is a basket with a lifting mechanism combined with a convenient compartment with a pull-out drawer. It's not just about quick access and no need to search for the right jar in a large refrigerator. This approach also saves electricity - after all, the main door does not open, not so much air at room temperature enters the refrigerator, and less energy is spent on lowering the temperature to the optimal level.

Other Koreans - from Samsung - also did not ignore the refrigerator doors. They probably did it on a larger scale, although it was similar in meaning. Refrigerators with a Food Showcase food storage system also have a kind of first door - you open it and in front of you is, as it were, an external refrigeration compartment: 6 compartments for storing various types of food (cheese, sausage, drinks, sandwiches, baby food and others). In addition, this space is divided into 3 zones in which you can store products for different purposes: for cooking, for the whole family, for children, etc. This approach, again, makes it easier to find what you need in the refrigerator and saves electricity - less warm air gets inside the refrigerator.

LG Door-in-Door and Samsung Food Showcase models are also sold in Russia.

The main difference between a linear compressor and all those traditionally used in household refrigerators is the absence of a link that converts the rotation of the electric motor rotor into the movement of a piston mechanism. In linear compressors, the pistons themselves move under the influence of an electromagnetic field.

Inverter control of refrigerator compressor power is now implemented in models from many manufacturers, including those sold in our country. As in an air conditioner, this allows the compressor to work not discretely, turning on and off (which is why the greatest wear occurs), but smoothly increasing or decreasing power, depending on the need (maintaining the temperature set by the user in the refrigerator compartments). The noise level is also lower.

No defrosting

It would be wrong not to recall in this material the system of automatic defrosting of the refrigerator (or rather, freezing without frost) - No Frost. Still, this is a revolutionary innovation - it ends the era of manually defrosting refrigerators (remember that fight against ice in the freezer using saucepans with hot water?). Thanks for No Frost we must say to Liebherr, a famous European manufacturer of refrigerators.

The Germans introduced this technology into their refrigerators back in 1987. Of course, frost still appears on the evaporator. The user simply does not see it and does not have any contact with it: the evaporator is located behind the back wall of the freezer. The built-in fan circulates air in the freezer; most of the moisture from it condenses on the cold evaporator, becoming frost, so there is no ice directly in the freezer. Next to the evaporator there is a heating element that turns on and off cyclically according to a timer signal. When the heater is working, the frost melts, and the water flows through a special channel into a bath intended for it above the compressor and gradually evaporates. In most refrigerators of different brands, this technology is called No Frost; today it is widespread and represented in markets all over the world, including the Russian one.

Previously, only refrigerator freezers could boast of No Frost. The refrigerator compartment usually had a drip defrost system (static). But today there are quite a few models where No Frost is everywhere (but, of course, the refrigerator compartment still has its own temperature regime). LG calls this approach Total No Frost and is based on the symbiosis of the evaporator located behind the rear wall and the Multi-Air Flow Cooling System multi-flow cooling technology (forced air circulation).

If there is No Frost in the refrigerator, then the air in it is very dry. Therefore, food quickly airs and dries out, so you only need to store them, both in the freezer and in the refrigerator compartment, in packaging or in special containers.

Almost no defrosting

Unlike No Frost, Low Frost technology can be called relatively new; it began to be promoted two or three years ago. It is implemented, for example, in Bosch and Siemens refrigerators. It is important not to confuse these technologies. Low Frost is a new solution in the design of the evaporator: it is located not only along the entire perimeter of the freezer compartment (behind its rear wall), but also on the side and top behind the walls of the freezer. This helps to avoid temperature changes in the freezer, which leads to a noticeable reduction in the amount of ice inside it. That is, this is not No Frost; a freezer with Low Frost technology needs to be defrosted, but, according to the manufacturer, not more than once a year, because very little ice is formed. Actually, Low Frost translated from English means “little frost,” while No Frost means “no frost.” The Low Frost system is also found, for example, in Zanussi refrigerators. It is possible to purchase such models in Russia.

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