Compressor Waste-Heat Humidification for Refrigerator Cooling Compartments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators typically have low humidity in the cooling compartment due to condensation of moisture on the evaporator, and existing humidification devices require significant energy for heating to release moisture, leading to inefficient humidity management.
Innovation Solution
A refrigeration system that utilizes waste heat from the compressor to drive a sorption-based humidification device, where a heat transfer circuit connects the compressor to a sorption element, allowing for efficient moisture release into the cooling compartment without direct ambient air supply, and includes a control system to manage adsorption and desorption processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a heating element is used to heat the air flowing through the sorbent for desorption, then moisture is released into the cold room, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the waste heat from the compressor, which would otherwise be dissipated uselessly, into a useful heating source for the sorbent desorption process. The heat transfer circuit captures this waste heat and directs it to the sorbent, enabling moisture release without requiring additional energy input from a heating element.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own internally generated waste heat to perform the desorption function, making the humidification process self-sufficient. The compressor's waste heat serves the dual purpose of maintaining refrigeration while simultaneously providing the thermal energy needed to release moisture from the sorbent.
2Quantity of substance
If ambient air is supplied directly to the humidification circuit, then moisture can be absorbed by the sorbent, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling compartment serves multiple functions: it acts as both the refrigerated space and the source of ambient air for the humidification circuit. When the door is opened, the same compartment that provides cooling also supplies moisture-laden air to the sorbent, eliminating the need for separate air intake systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling compartment acts as an intermediary between the external environment and the humidification circuit. Instead of directly introducing external air, the system uses the cooling compartment as a buffer and transfer medium, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining effective moisture absorption.
3Temperature
If the evaporator surface temperature is kept very low for cooling, then cooling efficiency is maintained, but moisture condenses and freezes on the evaporator, reducing humidity in the cooling compartment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the moisture that would otherwise condense and freeze on the evaporator by introducing a sorbent-based humidification circuit. The sorbent actively absorbs moisture from the air in the cooling compartment, preventing condensation on the evaporator surface while maintaining low temperatures for efficient cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the humidity parameter in the cooling compartment by introducing a sorbent that can dynamically adjust moisture levels. The sorbent absorbs excess moisture when humidity is high and releases it when humidity is low, allowing the evaporator to maintain low temperatures without suffering from moisture condensation and freezing.
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 energy consumption by leveraging waste heat for humidification, maintaining humidity levels in the cooling compartment while minimizing direct condensation on the evaporator, thus enhancing the overall efficiency of the refrigeration process.
Implementation Method 1
Ambient air with high humidity flows through the sorbent in an adsorption process, as a result of which the sorbent extracts a quantity of water from the ambient air and stores it.
Implementation Method 2
In a subsequent desorption process, the cold room air is humidified. For this purpose, the cooling room air flows through the sorbent under heat. The amount of water stored in the sorbent is released as water vapor with the heated cold room air
Implementation Method 3
A heat transfer circuit is connected between the compressor of the refrigerant circuit and the sorption element of the humidification device, with which the compressor waste heat is transferred to the sorbent.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a cooling appliance comprising a device (17) for humidifying the cooling compartment. Said humidifying device (17) has a sorbent (23) which can be reversibly dehydrogenated and dispenses humidity into the cooling compartment (1) when the sorbent (23) is heated. The sorbent (23) is thermally coupled to a compressor (13) which is connected to the coolant circuit in the cooling appliance. The waste heat generated by the compressor (13) during operation is used to heat the sorbent (23).