Vapor pressure deficit control for food preservation

Abstract

A method for control of vapor pressure deficit for food preservation in a refrigerator. The method includes measuring the temperature and humidity of the food storage compartment, determining the vapor pressure deficit in the food storage compartment, and adjusting the temperature in the food storage compartment to maintain the vapor pressure deficit within the desired range.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of preserving food inside a refrigerator, the refrigerator comprising a compartment for storing food, the method comprising:
 measuring the humidity in the compartment;   measuring the temperature in the compartment;   determining the vapor pressure deficit in the compartment; and   adjusting the temperature in the compartment to maintain the vapor pressure deficit in the compartment within a desired range.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the desired range for the vapor pressure deficit is between about 0.07 kPa and about 0.15 kPa. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the desired range for the vapor pressure deficit is between about 0.15 kPa and about 0.22 kPa. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the desired range for the vapor pressure deficit is between about 0.22 kPa and about 0.30 kPa. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the desired range for the vapor pressure deficit is between about 0.30 kPa and about 0.45 kPa. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature in the compartment is adjusted to between 33° F. and 45° F. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature in the compartment is adjusted to between 34° F. and 37° F. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting the food in the food storage compartment and   selecting the desired VPD range based on the food detected.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the refrigerator is operated in a manual VPD control mode, a semiautomatic VPD control mode, or an automatic VPD control mode. 
     
     
         10 . A method of preserving food inside a refrigerator, the refrigerator comprising a plurality of compartments for storing food, the method comprising:
 measuring the humidity in each of the plurality of compartments;   measuring the temperature in each of the plurality of compartments;   determining the vapor pressure deficit in each of the plurality of compartments; and   selecting vapor pressure deficit control for at least one of the plurality of compartments, wherein   a) for each of the plurality of compartments for which vapor pressure deficit control is selected, individually adjusting the temperature in each of the selected compartments to maintain the individual vapor pressure deficit in each of the selected compartments within an individually desired range; and   b) for each of the plurality of compartments for which vapor pressure deficit control not selected, individually adjusting the temperature in each of the unselected compartments within an individually desired range without regard to the vapor pressure deficit in any of the unselected compartments.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the desired range for the vapor pressure deficit in at least one of the selected compartments is between about 0.07 kPa and about 0.15 kPa. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the desired range for the vapor pressure deficit in at least one of the selected compartments is between about 0.15 kPa and about 0.22 kPa. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the desired range for the vapor pressure deficit in at least one of the selected compartments is between about 0.22 kPa and about 0.30 kPa. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the desired range for the vapor pressure deficit in at least one of the selected compartments is between about 0.30 kPa and about 0.45 kPa. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 detecting the food in at least one of the selected compartments and   selecting the desired VPD range at least one of the selected compartments based on the food detected.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the refrigerator is operated in at least one of the selected compartments in a manual VPD control mode, a semiautomatic VPD control mode, or an automatic VPD control mode. 
     
     
         17 . A refrigerator comprising:
 at least one food storage compartment;   at least one thermometer;   at least one hygrometer;   a sealed system configured for cooling air in the at least one food storage compartment;   and a controller configured to:   1) receive a measured temperature from the thermometer and a measured humidity from the hygrometer and to calculate a vapor pressure deficit based on the measured temperature and measured humidity,   2) activate or deactivate the sealed system,   wherein:   when the vapor pressure deficit is within a desired range, the controller deactivates the sealed system; or   when the vapor pressure deficit is outside of the desired range, the controller activates the sealed system.   
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein the refrigerator is operated in a manual VPD control mode or a semiautomatic VPD control mode. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 17 , further comprising a food detection device, and
 wherein the food detection device detects the food in the food storage compartment and the controller selects the desired VPD range.   
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 19 , wherein the food detection device is a camera.