Compressor-Enclosing Evaporation Tray for Condensate Overflow Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern refrigeration devices with improved insulation and less powerful compressors face issues with condensation water overflow due to insufficient evaporation capacity, particularly in humid environments, which can lead to electrical system damage and require additional energy or technical effort for compensation.
Innovation Solution
The evaporation tray is designed to enclose the compressor with a curved surface, allowing for improved heat exchange and enhanced evaporation performance, eliminating the need for additional heating sources and optimizing space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If additional heating sources (tube from condenser or electrical heaters) are used to increase evaporation capacity, then evaporation performance is improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporation tray is merged with the compressor housing to form an integrated structure. The tray is formed as an extension of the compressor housing itself, eliminating the need for separate heating components while utilizing the compressor's waste heat more effectively through increased surface contact area.
Solution Approach 2:
The evaporation tray features a curved bottom surface that conforms to the curved outer surface of the compressor. This curved geometry maximizes the contact area between the tray and compressor, enhancing heat transfer efficiency without requiring additional heating elements.
2Productivity
If additional heating sources are used to increase evaporation capacity, then evaporation performance is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor's waste heat, which would otherwise be dissipated to the environment, is converted into a useful heating source for the evaporation tray. The tray's close proximity to the compressor allows it to absorb this waste heat, eliminating the need for additional energy-consuming heating sources while maintaining effective evaporation capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own waste heat from the compressor to evaporate condensation water in the tray, creating a self-sustaining evaporation process that does not require external energy input. The compressor's operation automatically provides the necessary heat for water evaporation.
3Ease of operation
If the evaporation tray is loosely placed on the compressor, then ease of removal for cleaning is improved, but reliability and heat transfer efficiency worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporation tray is designed as a detachable component that can be separated from the compressor housing. This segmentation allows the tray to be easily removed for cleaning while maintaining a stable, heat-efficient connection during operation through the curved surface engagement.
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 ensures effective evaporation of condensation water, preventing overflow and reducing energy consumption while maintaining efficient operation even with less powerful compressors, and allows for a more compact and lightweight design.
Implementation Method 1
the waste heat from the compressor is no longer sufficient to evaporate the condensation water... the heat transfer between the compressor and the evaporation tray can be improved, which leads to greater heating of the condensed water in the evaporation tray
Implementation Method 2
Condensation water collected in it evaporates due to the heating of the evaporation tray, in particular due to the transfer of heat from the compressor to the collection container, and is thus released into the ambient air
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A refrigeration appliance (1) having a condenser (3) and an evaporation tray (5) for receiving condensation, wherein the evaporation tray (5) surrounds the condenser (3) at least in part.