Refrigerated Cabinet Drain Seal for Air Blocking Without Water
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing refrigerated sales cabinets require inconvenient and costly maintenance to ensure water is present in the drain conduit to prevent warm air from ascending, which reduces the efficiency of the refrigeration circuit.
Innovation Solution
The use of a drain conduit filled with non-absorbent granulate material or a movable flap to block air while allowing water to pass through, eliminating the need for water in the conduit and simplifying maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a water-filled siphon is used in the drain conduit to prevent warm air from ascending, then the refrigeration circuit efficiency is maintained, but the installation and maintenance effort and costs increase due to the need to regularly check and refill water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a porous plug made of porous material (such as porous ceramic or porous plastic) installed in the drain conduit. This plug allows condensed water to pass through via capillary action while blocking warm air from ascending into the refrigerated space. The porous structure provides automatic air sealing without requiring water filling or regular maintenance, thus maintaining refrigeration efficiency while eliminating the operational burden of water-filled siphons.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous plug is designed as a simple, inexpensive, and maintenance-free component that can be easily replaced if needed. Unlike water-filled siphons that require continuous monitoring and refilling, the porous plug provides a permanent solution with no operational maintenance requirements, significantly reducing installation and maintenance costs while ensuring reliable air prevention.
2Ease of manufacture
If a water-filled siphon is used in the drain conduit, then condensed water can be drained, but the complexity of the system increases due to the need to ensure water presence in the conduit
Solution Approach 1:
The porous plug eliminates the need for complex water management systems. The porous material inherently provides both drainage functionality and air sealing through its structure, removing the need for water-filled siphons, water level sensors, and refilling mechanisms. This simplifies the overall system design while maintaining effective condensed water drainage and air prevention capabilities.
3Productivity
If the drain conduit is left open to allow water drainage, then condensed water removal is efficient, but warm air ascends through the conduit reducing refrigeration efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The porous plug is strategically positioned in the drain conduit to enable simultaneous water drainage and air blocking. The porous structure allows condensed water to pass through via gravity and capillary action, maintaining efficient water removal, while the porous walls block warm air from ascending into the refrigerated space, thus preserving refrigeration circuit efficiency without compromising drainage productivity.
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 reduces installation and maintenance efforts and costs by preventing air from entering the drain conduit, ensuring efficient removal of condensed water without the need for regular water checks, thus maintaining the refrigeration circuit's efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an at least partially permeable container arranged along the flow path of the drain conduit, wherein the container is filled with granulate material that is non-absorbent to water. The granulate material is piled up within the container so as to occupy the full diameter of the flow path such that air is hindered or even prevented from passing through the drain conduit from outside of the goods presentation and air circulation space into the goods presentation and air circulation space and such that water still can pass through the drain conduit
Implementation Method 2
A movable flap is arranged at the opening of the drain conduit. The movable flap is configured to be moved into a closed position by means of gravity, in particular by its own weight. In said closed position the movable flap seals the opening provided at the upper end of the second conduit 46 and hinders or prevents air from flowing through the opening into the second conduit 46.
Implementation Method 3
an evaporator for cooling air flowing through the air circulation space. The refrigerated sales cabinet further comprises a drain conduit fluidly connecting a bottom part of the goods presentation and air circulation space with a position outside of the goods presentation and air circulation space. Said drain conduit is configured for draining condensed water forming within the goods presentation and air circulation space
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerating cabinet (1) comprises at least one goods presentation and air circulation space (2), a refrigeration cycle for cooling the at least one goods presentation and air circulation space (2), and at least one drain conduit (36; 42) configured for draining condensed water, which is produced when the refrigeration circuit is operating, from the at least one goods presentation and air circulation space (2). At least a portion of the at least one drain conduit (36; 42) is filled with a granulate material (34) or provided with a movable flap (48) allowing water to pass through the drain conduit (36; 42) and blocking air from passing through the drain conduit (36; 42).