Refrigerator to reduce the deterioration rate of stored items using plasma and photocatalyst

A refrigerator for reducing a deterioration rate of stored items using plasma and a photocatalyst filter, the refrigerator comprising:

• a storage compartment for storing and retrieving at least one of food, fruits, vegetables, meat, flowers, or plants;
• an openable and closable door;
• a cooling device for cooling air within the storage compartment;
• and
• an air purification device for purifying air within the storage compartment,
• wherein the air purification device includes:
• a photocatalyst filter for removing particles in the air within the storage compartment;
• a plasma generator for performing plasma sterilization on the air within the storage compartment;
• a ventilation fan configured to direct air passing through the photocatalyst filter to the plasma generator and discharge the air into the storage compartment;
• a high-voltage generator comprising a battery and configured to generate a high voltage for generating plasma within the plasma generator from a voltage output from the battery;
• and a controller comprising at least one processor,
• wherein the photocatalyst filter includes:
• a filter medium coated with titanium dioxide (TiO2), which is a photocatalytic material;
• and a lamp configured to emit visible light or ultraviolet light to the photocatalyst material,
• wherein the plasma generator includes:
• a plurality of discharge needle electrodes arranged in cells on an XY plane, wherein peaks of the cells are oriented in a Z-axis direction at centers of the cells;
• ground electrodes formed on the XY plane at a same height as the peaks and arranged around the cells to correspond one-to-one with the peaks;
• a guide block on which the ground electrodes are installed on an upper portion, and having grooves into which the plurality of discharge needle electrodes are inserted;
• a first terminal electrically connected to the plurality of discharge needle electrodes and a second terminal electrically connected to the ground electrodes,
• wherein the ground electrodes are configured as ground pads made of a conductive material, with electrode holes in circular or polygonal shapes arranged in m rows and n columns, sharing a common center with the peaks of the plurality of discharge needle electrodes,
• wherein the guide block is configured in a cylindrical shape with a common center aligned with the peaks of the plurality of discharge needle electrodes, and includes a tunnel arranged corresponding to the cells, and
• wherein the guide block is further configured such that a first diameter of the tunnel is largest at a bottom and gradually decreases toward the ground electrodes along a direction of an airflow.