Supercooling apparatus and its method

Abstract

The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for supercooling which can stably maintain the contents in a supercooled state for an extended period of time by controlling energy. The apparatus for supercooling includes a means for taking energy from the contents, and a means for causing at least one of rotation, vibration and translation to water molecules of the contents, by supplying energy smaller than the taken energy. The contents arc maintained in a liquid state below a phase transition temperature.

1 . An apparatus for supercooling, comprising:
 a means for taking energy from the contents; and   a means for causing at least one of rotation, vibration and translation to water molecules of the contents, by supplying energy smaller than the taken energy,   whereby the contents are maintained in a liquid state below a phase transition temperature.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus for supercooling of  claim 1 , wherein the causing means applies an electric field to the contents. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus for supercooling of  claim 2 , wherein the causing means sets the supplied energy by varying at least one of a voltage, a frequency and a current. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus for supercooling of  claim 1 , wherein the taken energy is dependent upon a difference between a cooling temperature applied to the contents and a current temperature of the contents. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus for supercooling of  claim 1 , wherein the taken energy is dependent upon a quantity of the contents. 
   
   
       6 . A method for supercooling, comprising the steps of:
 setting energy taken from the contents;   taking the set energy from the contents; and   causing at least one of rotation, vibration and translation to water molecules of the contents, by supplying energy smaller than the set energy, the above steps being sequentially or simultaneously carried out,   whereby the contents are maintained in a liquid state below a phase transition temperature.   
   
   
       7 . The method for supercooling of  claim 6 , wherein the step for setting energy is dependent upon a difference between a cooling temperature applied to the contents and a current temperature of the contents. 
   
   
       8 . The method for supercooling of  claim 6 , wherein the step for setting energy is dependent upon a quantity of the contents. 
   
   
       9 . The method for supercooling of  claim 6 , wherein the causing step comprises the steps of:
 setting the applied energy; and   setting a voltage, a frequency and a current according to the set energy.   
   
   
       10 . A method for supercooling, comprising the steps of:
 supplying energy to the contents; and   taking more energy than the supplied energy, at least one of rotation, vibration and translation being caused to water molecules of the contents,   whereby the contents are maintained in a liquid state below a phase transition temperature.   
   
   
       11 . A method for supercooling, comprising the steps of:
 applying energy to a storing space for storing the contents; and   setting a non-freezing temperature of the storing space or the contents according to the quantity of applied energy.   
   
   
       12 . The method for supercooling of  claim 11 , wherein the setting step sets the non-freezing temperature by using proportional relation between the non-freezing temperature of the storing space or the contents and the quantity of energy. 
   
   
       13 . The method for supercooling of  claim 11 , further comprising a step for cooling the storing space or the contents at a constant cooling speed. 
   
   
       14 . The method for supercooling of  claim 11 , wherein the setting step sets the non-freezing temperature according to the cooling temperature of the storing space or the contents and the quantity of energy. 
   
   
       15 . A method for supercooling, comprising the steps of:
 reading a degree of non-freezing of a storing space or the contents; and   setting a quantity of applied energy according to the degree of non-freezing.   
   
   
       16 . The method for supercooling of  claim 15 , further comprising a step for applying the set quantity of energy to the storing space or the contents. 
   
   
       17 . The method for supercooling of  claim 15 , wherein the setting step sets the quantity of energy by using proportional relation between the degree of non-freezing and the quantity of energy. 
   
   
       18 . The method for supercooling of either  claim 15  or  17 , further comprising a step for cooling the storing space or the contents at a constant cooling temperature. 
   
   
       19 . The method for supercooling of  claim 15 , wherein the reading step reads the degree of non-freezing selected by the user. 
   
   
       20 . The method for supercooling of  claim 15 , further comprising a step for setting a degree of cooling for the storing space or the contents according to the degree of non-freezing. 
   
   
       21 . The method for supercooling of  claim 20 , which performs an energy application step using the set quantity of energy, and a cooling step using the set degree of cooling. 
   
   
       22 . A method for supercooling, comprising the steps of:
 cooling a storing space or the contents stored in the storing space; and   executing a non-freezing mode before a phase transition temperature of the contents.   
   
   
       23 . The method for supercooling of  claim 22 , further comprising a step for sensing a temperature of the storing space or the contents. 
   
   
       24 . The method for supercooling of  claim 22 , further comprising a step for reducing a supply speed of cool air in the step for executing the non-freezing mode. 
   
   
       25 . A method for supercooling, comprising the steps of:
 cooling a storing space or the contents for a set time; and   executing a non-freezing mode on the storing space or the contents.   
   
   
       26 . The method for supercooling of  claim 25 , which reduces a cooling speed of the cooling step during the step for executing the non-freezing mode. 
   
   
       27 . A method for supercooling, comprising a step for executing a non-freezing mode on a storing space or the contents stored in the storing space, the step for executing the non-freezing mode being discontinuously carried cut. 
   
   
       28 . The method for supercooling of  claim 27 , wherein the non-freezing mode is discontinuously executed when the contents are in the non-frozen state. 
   
   
       29 . A method for supercooling, comprising the steps of:
 executing a non-freezing mode;   checking a proceeding degree of a non-frozen state; and   controlling intensity of the non-freezing mode according to the result of the checking step.   
   
   
       30 . The method for supercooling of  claim 29 , wherein the intensity of the non-freezing mode is associated with a amplitude of a voltage and a height of a frequency for generating an electric field.