Cascade Heat Exchanger Insulation Layout for Compact Refrigeration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigeration apparatuses with cascade heat exchangers face challenges in carrying and installation due to protruding insulating structures, which increase the depth dimension and reduce storage volume, and require laborious outer cover attachment during installation.
Innovation Solution
The refrigeration apparatus features a mechanical chamber with insulating structures integrated into the side wall of the insulating box body, allowing the cascade heat exchanger and intermediate heat exchangers to be surrounded by insulating material without increasing the depth dimension, and using vacuum insulating panels to enhance insulation performance while reducing the need for thick foam insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cascade heat exchanger is surrounded with thick insulating material to prevent dew attachment, then insulation performance is improved, but the depth dimension increases causing protrusion that disturbs installation and carrying
Solution Approach 1:
The cascade heat exchanger is nested within a storage recess portion formed in the insulating box body, with insulating material filled in the surrounding space. This nesting arrangement allows the insulating material to be contained within the overall dimensions of the box body, preventing protrusion while maintaining insulation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adding insulation in the depth direction which causes protrusion, the invention utilizes the lateral space within the insulating box body by forming a storage recess portion. The insulating material is placed in this recess space, effectively using available volume without increasing external dimensions.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the insulating material thickness is increased to cover the cascade heat exchanger, then dew prevention is improved, but the storage volume of the refrigeration apparatus decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage recess portion is formed in the back surface of the insulating box body, creating a dedicated space for the cascade heat exchanger and its insulating material. This recess structure allows the insulation to be contained within the overall footprint, preserving storage volume in the main compartment while providing sufficient insulation thickness where needed.
3Temperature
If the cascade heat exchanger is installed with sufficient insulation on the back surface, then low temperature maintenance is improved, but the apparatus becomes difficult to carry indoors through usual entrances
Solution Approach 1:
By nesting the cascade heat exchanger and its insulating material within a storage recess portion formed in the insulating box body, the overall external dimensions of the apparatus are maintained within standard carrying limits. The recess structure allows sufficient insulation thickness without increasing the depth dimension that would prevent passage through usual entrances.
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 design enables easier carrying and installation by reducing the depth dimension, maintaining storage volume, and improving insulation efficiency, allowing for efficient cooling to extremely low temperatures without increasing the outer dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
an insulating structure in which the periphery of the cascade heat exchanger is surrounded with an insulating material
Implementation Method 2
using vacuum insulating panels to enhance insulation performance
Implementation Method 3
foam insulating material
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed a refrigeration apparatus including a cascade heat exchanger and capable of reducing the depth dimension of the apparatus itself without being influenced by the thickness dimension of an insulating material for covering the cascade heat exchanger, so that the apparatus can easily be carried indoors through a usual carrying entrance. In a refrigeration apparatus 1 including a high-temperature-side refrigerant circuit 25 and a low-temperature-side refrigerant-circuit 38, an evaporator 34 of the high-temperature-side refrigerant circuit 25 and a condensing pipe 42 of the low-temperature-side refrigerant circuit 25 constitute a cascade heat exchanger 43, and an evaporation pipe 62 of the low-temperature-side refrigerant circuit 38 is configured to cool a storage chamber 4 constituted in an insulating box body 2 to an extremely low temperature. The apparatus includes a mechanical chamber 3 which is constituted by the side of an insulating box body 2 and in which a compressor 10 and the like are installed, and an insulating structure 70 in which the periphery of the cascade heat exchanger 34 is surrounded with an insulating material is arranged in a side wall of the insulating box body 2 on the side of the mechanical chamber 3.