Supercooling apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to a supercooling apparatus which can reduce a deviation of energy applied to a stored object. The supercooling apparatus includes a storage room provided in a storing unit where the cooling is performed and having a storing space therein to store or receive an object, a heat source supply unit installed in the storage room and supplying heat to the storing space or generating heat in the storing space; a temperature sensing unit sensing the temperature of the storing space or the stored object, and a control unit operating the heat source supply unit based on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensing unit to enable an upper portion of the storing space to have a temperature higher than a temperature of the maximum ice crystal formation zone, such that the storing space or the stored object is maintained in a supercooled state at a temperature below the maximum ice crystal formation zone, the control unit supplying or generating heat over a given magnitude during the supercooled-state control.

1 . A supercooling apparatus, comprising:
 a storage room provided in a storing unit where the cooling is performed and having a storing space therein to store an object;   a heat source supply unit provided in the storage room and supplying heat to the storing space or generating heat in the storing space;   a temperature sensing unit sensing the temperature of the storing space or the stored object; and   a control unit operating the heat source supply unit based on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensing unit to enable an upper portion of the storing space to have a temperature higher than a temperature of the maximum ice crystal formation zone, such that the storing space or the stored object is maintained in a supercooled state at a temperature below the maximum ice crystal formation zone, the control unit supplying or generating heat over a given magnitude during the supercooled-state control.   
     
     
         2 . The supercooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit maintains the upper temperature of the storing space over the phase transition temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The supercooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit maintains the lower temperature of the storing space or the temperature of the stored object at a preset supercooling temperature to store the stored object in the supercooled state. 
     
     
         4 . The supercooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit controls the heat source supply unit to supply or generate heat of a given magnitude range. 
     
     
         5 . The supercooling apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the heat source supply unit comprises first and second heat source supply units independently respectively provided on two or more surfaces of the storing space. 
     
     
         6 . The supercooling apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first or second heat source supply unit comprises two or more sub-heat source supply units,
 wherein at least one sub-heat source supply unit has the on state and the other one sub-heat source supply unit alternately has the on state and the off state during the supercooled-state control.   
     
     
         7 . The supercooling apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first or second heat source supply unit receives a voltage included in a voltage variable region higher than 0 V and maintains the on state to keep the stored object in the supercooled state. 
     
     
         8 . The supercooling apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the temperature sensing unit comprises one or more temperature sensors mounted on or adjacent to the surface having the heat source supply unit thereon. 
     
     
         9 . The supercooling apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the control unit independently controls the heat source supply unit based on the temperature of the temperature sensor mounted on the same surface as the heat source supply unit or the temperature sensor mounted in the proximity of the heat source supply unit. 
     
     
         10 . The supercooling apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the control unit determines whether the supercooled state of the stored object has been released according to a change in the sensed temperature from the temperature sensing unit. 
     
     
         11 . A supercooling method for a cooling apparatus including a storage room which is provided in a storing unit where the cooling is performed and which has a storing space therein to store an object, the supercooling method comprising:
 cooling the stored object or the storage room to a temperature of the maximum ice crystal formation zone or a lower temperature; and   supplying heat to the storing space or generating heat in the storing space,   wherein the supercooling method performs sensing the temperature of the storing space or the stored object, and performs the supercooled-state control which controls at least one of the cooling and the supplying of heat based on the sensed temperature to enable an upper portion of the storing space to have a temperature higher than a temperature of the maximum ice crystal formation zone, such that the storing space or the stored object is maintained in a supercooled state at a temperature below the maximum ice crystal formation zone.   
     
     
         12 . The supercooling method of  claim 11 , wherein the supplying of heat is to supply or generate heat over a given magnitude during the supercooled-state control. 
     
     
         13 . The supercooling method of  claim 11 , wherein the supercooled-state control is to maintain the upper temperature of the storing space over the phase transition temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The supercooling method of  claim 11 , wherein the supercooled-state control is to maintain the lower temperature of the storing space or the temperature of the stored object at a preset supercooling temperature to store the stored object in the supercooled state. 
     
     
         15 . The supercooling method of  claim 11 , wherein the supplying of heat is to supply or generate heat of a given magnitude range. 
     
     
         16 . The supercooling method of  claim 15 , wherein the supplying of heat is performed by first and second heat source supply units provided in different locations, and the supplying of heat is to perform first lower heat supply which maintains the first heat source supply unit in the on state and second lower heat supply which maintains the second heat source supply unit alternately in the on state and the off state at the same time during the supercooled-state control. 
     
     
         17 . The supercooling method of  claim 11 , comprising determining, at a control unit, whether the supercooled state of the stored object has been released according to a change in the sensed temperature from a temperature sensing unit.