Supercooling system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a supercooling system which can supply heat to a stored object or generate heat according to a sensed temperature to maintain the stored object in a supercooled state. The supercooling system includes a cooling apparatus including a storing unit storing a stored object, a cooling means cooling the storing unit, and a main control unit receiving external commercial power and controlling the cooling means to maintain the temperature in the storing unit at a temperature below the maximum ice crystal formation zone, and a supercooling apparatus including an independent storage room having a storing space therein to receive a storing container containing a liquid to be supercooled and mounted and cooled in the storing unit, a temperature sensing unit sensing the temperature of the independent storage room, a temperature control means mounted in the independent storage room and controlling the internal temperature such that a temperature of an upper portion of the storing space or the storing container is higher than a temperature of the maximum ice crystal formation zone and a temperature of a lower portion of the storing space or the storing container, and a sub-control unit controlling the temperature control means based on the sensed temperature from the temperature sensing unit to store the liquid in a supercooled state, maintaining the temperature control means in the off state when the temperature of the storing space or the storing container is equal to or higher than a preset temperature-control start temperature, and controlling the temperature control means in the on and off states when the temperature of the storing space or the storing container storage sensing preset temperature-control start temperature.

1 . A supercooling system, comprising:
 a cooling apparatus including a storing unit storing a stored object, a cooling means cooling the storing unit, and a main control unit receiving external commercial power and controlling the cooling means to maintain the temperature in the storing unit at a temperature below the maximum ice crystal formation zone; and   a supercooling apparatus including an independent storage room having a storing space therein to receive a storing container containing a liquid to be supercooled and mounted and cooled in the storing unit, a temperature sensing unit sensing the temperature of the independent storage room, a temperature control means mounted in the independent storage room and controlling the internal temperature such that a temperature of an upper portion of the storing space or the storing container is higher than a temperature of the maximum ice crystal formation zone and a temperature of a lower portion of the storing space or the storing container, and a sub-control unit controlling the temperature control means based on the sensed temperature from the temperature sensing unit to store the liquid in a supercooled state, maintaining the temperature control means in the off state when the temperature of the storing space or the storing container is equal to or higher than a preset temperature-control start temperature, and controlling the temperature control means in the on and off states when the temperature of the storing space or the storing container is lower than the preset temperature-control start temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The supercooling system of  claim 1 , wherein a boundary film is provided to limit the air and heat exchange between the upper and lower portions of the storing space, and at least a part of the storing container passes through the boundary film, so that the storing container is located in the upper and lower portions of the storing space. 
     
     
         3 . The supercooling system of  claim 2 , wherein the temperature control means comprises a heat source supply unit supplying or generating heat in the independent storage room. 
     
     
         4 . The supercooling system of  claim 3 , wherein the heat source supply unit comprises an upper heat source supply unit installed in the upper portion of the storing space and a lower heat source supply unit installed in the lower portion of the storing space. 
     
     
         5 . The supercooling system of  claim 4 , wherein the temperature sensing unit is installed in at least one of the upper and lower portions of the storing space. 
     
     
         6 . The supercooling system of  claim 5 , wherein the control unit independently controls the heat source supply unit based on the temperature of a temperature sensor installed in the same space of the storing space. 
     
     
         7 . The supercooling system of  claim 6 , wherein the control unit compares the temperature of the lower portion of the storing space or the stored object with the preset temperature-control start temperature to control the temperature control means. 
     
     
         8 . The supercooling system of  claim 7 , wherein the control unit compares an upper sensed temperature and a lower sensed temperature sensed by the temperature sensing unit with a first upper reference temperature and a first lower reference temperature, respectively, when the temperature of the lower portion of the storing space or the stored object is lower than the preset temperature-control start temperature, and controls the upper heat source supply unit and the lower heat source supply unit in the on state when the upper sensed temperature and the lower sensed temperature are smaller than the first upper reference temperature and the first lower reference temperature, respectively. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The supercooling system of  claim 7 , wherein the control unit compares the upper sensed temperature and the lower sensed temperature sensed by the temperature sensing unit with a second upper reference temperature and a second lower reference temperature, respectively, when the temperature of the lower portion of the storing space or the stored object is lower than the preset temperature-control start temperature, and controls the upper heat source supply unit and the lower heat source supply unit in the off state when the upper sensed temperature and the lower sensed temperature are larger than the second upper reference temperature and the second lower reference temperature, respectively. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The supercooling system of  claim 7 , wherein the control unit maintains the previous on or off state when the temperature of the lower portion of the storing space or the stored object is lower than the preset temperature-control start temperature and when the upper sensed temperature and the lower sensed temperature sensed by the temperature sensing unit exist between the first upper reference temperature and the second upper reference temperature and between the first lower reference temperature and the second lower reference temperature, respectively. 
     
     
         13 . The supercooling system of  claim 6 , wherein the supercooling apparatus comprises a fan element circulating the air in the lower portion of the storing space by forcible convection. 
     
     
         14 . The supercooling system of  claim 13 , wherein the cooling apparatus comprises a storing unit door opening and closing the storing unit, and the control unit maintains the fan element in the off state when the storing unit door is opened and controls the fan element in the on or off state when the storing unit door is closed. 
     
     
         15 . The supercooling system of  claim 13 , wherein the control unit controls the fan element in the on state when the lower sensed temperature is higher than a fan operation reference temperature, and when the lower sensed temperature is equal to or lower than the fan operation reference temperature, if at least one of the upper heat source supply unit and the lower heat source supply unit is in the on state, the control unit controls the fan element in the on state. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A supercooling method for a supercooling system including a cooling apparatus cooling a storing unit storing a stored object to a temperature below the maximum ice crystal formation zone, and a supercooling apparatus installed in the storing unit, having a storing space therein to receive a storing container containing a liquid, and maintaining a temperature of an upper portion of the storing space or the storing container to be higher than a temperature of the maximum ice crystal formation zone and a temperature of a lower portion of the storing space or the storing container, the supercooling method comprising:
 a cooling step of performing the cooling in the storing unit using the cooling apparatus; and   a heat source supply step of selectively or simultaneously performing an upper heat source supply step of supplying or generating heat in the upper portion of the storing space or the storing container and a lower heat source supply step of supplying or generating heat in the lower portion of the storing space or the storing container using the supercooling apparatus, the cooling step and the heat source supply step being performed regardless of order.   
     
     
         18 . The supercooling method of  claim 17 , wherein the supercooling method selectively or simultaneously performs an upper temperature sensing step of sensing the temperature of the upper portion of the storing space or the storing container and a lower temperature sensing step of sensing the temperature of the lower portion of the storing space or the storing container. 
     
     
         19 . The supercooling method of  claim 18 , wherein the supercooling method performs a step of comparing the upper sensed temperature and the lower sensed temperature with a first upper reference temperature and a first lower reference temperature, respectively, when the temperature of the lower portion of the storing space or the stored object is lower than a preset temperature-control start temperature, and performs the upper heat supply step and the lower heat source supply step when the upper sensed temperature and the lower sensed temperature are smaller than the first upper reference temperature and the first lower reference temperature, respectively. 
     
     
         20 . The supercooling method of  claim 19 , wherein the supercooling method performs a step of comparing the upper sensed temperature and the lower sensed temperature with a second upper reference temperature and a second lower reference temperature, respectively, when the temperature of the lower portion of the storing space or the stored object is lower than a preset temperature-control start temperature, and stops the operation of the upper heat source supply step and the lower heat source supply step, respectively, when the upper sensed temperature and the lower sensed temperature are larger than the second upper reference temperature and the second lower reference temperature, respectively. 
     
     
         21 . The supercooling method of  claim 20 , wherein the supercooling method maintains the previous operation of the upper heat source supply step and the lower heat source supply step when the temperature of the lower portion of the storing space or the stored object is lower than the preset temperature-control start temperature and when the upper sensed temperature and the lower sensed temperature exist between the first upper reference temperature and the second upper reference temperature and between the first lower reference temperature and the second lower reference temperature, respectively. 
     
     
         22 . The supercooling method of  claim 17 , comprising a step of circulating the air in the lower portion of the storing space by forcible convection. 
     
     
         23 . The supercooling method of  claim 22 , wherein the supercooling method performs the forcible convection step when the lower sensed temperature is higher than a forcible convection reference temperature, and when the lower sensed temperature is equal to or lower than a forcible convection reference temperature, if either the upper heat source supply step or the lower heat source supply step is performed, the supercooling method performs the forcible convection step. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled)