Bottom-Mount Refrigerator Airflow Layout Without Fan Cover Restriction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional bottom mount refrigerator airflow systems experience significant restriction and pressure drop due to the evaporator fan cover assembly, leading to reduced efficiency and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a refrigeration system that eliminates the evaporator fan cover assembly by using air outlets and returns between the freezer and fresh food compartments, allowing direct airflow between the compartments and reducing the need for a traditional fan cover, while utilizing an air deflector to direct air to the fresh food compartment and an evaporator fan safety screen to prevent contact issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an evaporator fan cover assembly is used to direct cooled air into the freezer and fresh food compartments, then airflow direction control is improved, but airflow restriction and pressure drop increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the evaporator fan cover assembly entirely from the system. Instead of using a covered assembly to direct airflow, the invention uses open air outlets positioned at the evaporator assembly to allow cooled air to flow directly into the freezer compartment and through ducts into the fresh food compartment, eliminating the restriction and pressure drop caused by the cover
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces air outlets as intermediary structures between the evaporator fan and the compartments. These air outlets serve as the mediating elements that direct airflow without creating the restriction and pressure drop of a covered assembly, allowing efficient air distribution while maintaining proper airflow direction
2Reliability
If the evaporator fan cover assembly is substantially closed to catch high volume airflow, then airflow containment is improved, but the airflow system works harder with increased pressure drop
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the evaporator fan cover assembly that created the containment issue. The system achieves sufficient airflow containment through strategically positioned air outlets and ducts without requiring a substantially closed cover, thereby reducing the work the fan must perform
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a closed cover to contain airflow and then providing openings, the invention inverts the approach by using open air outlets from the beginning. The air outlets are positioned to naturally guide and contain airflow through the freezer and into the fresh food compartment without requiring a enclosing cover structure
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances energy efficiency by reducing the power required for the evaporator fan, decreasing energy use by approximately 3% and minimizing heat production, while maintaining sufficient airflow and temperature control.
Implementation Method 1
The evaporator fan cover assembly is substantially closed with the exception of a first opening configured to allow evaporator cooled air to be directed into the freezer compartment
Implementation Method 2
air is drawn over an evaporator coil by an evaporator fan and thereby cooled
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigeration system includes an airflow system which eliminates the traditional evaporator fan cover assembly in the freezer area by utilizing at least one air outlet formed between a freezer cavity area and a duct coupled to the fresh food cavity area. The air outlet is configured to permit at least a portion of a cooled air stream generated by a fan of the evaporator assembly received in the freezer cavity area to be provided to the fresh food cavity area through the air outlet and via the duct. The refrigeration system also includes at least one air return formed between the evaporator assembly and the fresh food cavity area. The air return is configured such that air from the fresh food cavity area flows into the evaporator assembly through the air return.