Refrigerated Sales Cabinet Door Frame for Condensation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerated sales cabinets consume high electrical energy to prevent condensation on the door frame's front surface due to the use of electrical heating elements, which is inefficient and increases energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a thermally insulating front element with a reduced contact area and the use of fans to direct warm air through the door frame cavities to maintain the temperature above the dew point, combined with an air-liquid-separator to manage condensation, reduces energy consumption and prevents condensation effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an electrical heating element is used to prevent condensation on the door frame's front surface, then condensation is prevented, but electrical energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The door frame's own structure is utilized to prevent condensation. The insulating front element with its specific geometric design (curved surface, reduced contact area) passively prevents condensation without requiring external energy input, making the system self-sufficient for condensation prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the thermal insulation parameters of the door frame by introducing an insulating front element with specific geometric characteristics. This element has a curved surface and reduced contact area with the support member, creating optimal thermal insulation conditions that prevent the front surface temperature from dropping below the dew point
2Use of energy by moving object
If a thermally insulating front element with reduced contact area is implemented, then energy consumption is reduced, but the complexity of the door frame structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door frame is segmented into distinct functional elements: the support member and the separate insulating front element. This segmentation allows the insulating element to be optimized independently for thermal performance while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite construction by combining the support member (structural element) with the insulating front element (thermal insulation element). This composite approach achieves effective thermal insulation while keeping each component relatively simple in design
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 solution significantly reduces electrical energy consumption while effectively preventing condensation on the door frame's front surface, enhancing the operational efficiency of refrigerated sales cabinets.
Implementation Method 1
a thermally insulating layer (12), which is arranged between the rear panel (10) and the front panel (11)
Implementation Method 2
The insulating front element (9) is attached to the support member (4c) by means of at least one connection element (8b)
Implementation Method 3
the width of the area of contact between the insulating front element (9) and the support member (4c) provided by the connection element (8b), seen in a cross-sectional view, is less than 10 %, in particular less than 5%, of the width of the support member (4c)
Data Source
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AI summary
A refrigerated sales cabinet (20a) comprises a cabinet body (22a) providing a refrigerated sales space for supporting refrigerated goods to be presented therein; a door frame (21a) having a top post (34a), a bottom post (36a), and at least two upright posts (32a); wherein at least one of the posts (32a, 34a, 36a) comprises an air duct allowing to conduct air through the post (32a, 34a, 36a), and wherein at least one fan (18) is fluidly connected to the air duct in order to convey ambient air through the air duct.