Compressor Shell Heat Radiation Fins to Eliminate Fan Cooling

Solution Overview

Problem

Small compressors in refrigerators face challenges with heat dissipation due to reduced heat emission areas, leading to increased internal temperatures, reduced reliability, and efficiency, as well as increased manufacturing costs and noise from extended fan operation.

Innovation Solution

A small compressor design featuring an aluminum shell with heat radiation fins on its outer surface, minimizing dead angles and volumes to enhance heat emission, potentially eliminating the need for a fan and reducing the compressor's size while maintaining or improving efficiency and noise levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If heat radiation fins are added to the compressor shell, then heat dissipation efficiency is improved, but the occupied area increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat dissipation efficiencyVSAvoidoccupied area

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The heat radiation fins are arranged in a radial pattern around the cylindrical shell, utilizing the circumferential dimension to maximize heat dissipation surface area without increasing the axial or radial footprint of the compressor. This allows efficient heat radiation in all directions around the compressor body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Temperature

If a fan is installed in the machine room to discharge heat, then heat emission is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat emissionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The fan component is completely removed from the system. Instead of using active mechanical ventilation, the design relies on passive heat radiation through the fins and natural convection currents to dissipate heat from the compressor, thereby eliminating the fan and its associated manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The compressor shell with integrated heat radiation fins performs heat dissipation autonomously without requiring external active cooling components. The fins naturally conduct heat from the compressor body to the surrounding air through convection and radiation, enabling self-cooling functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Temperature

If a fan is installed to emit heat from the compressor, then heat dissipation is improved, but noise level increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat dissipationVSAvoidnoise level

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The fan component is completely removed from the system. Instead of using active mechanical ventilation, the design relies on passive heat radiation through the fins and natural convection currents to dissipate heat from the compressor, thereby eliminating the fan and its associated manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The compressor shell with integrated heat radiation fins performs heat dissipation autonomously without requiring external active cooling components. The fins naturally conduct heat from the compressor body to the surrounding air through convection and radiation, enabling self-cooling functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Temperature

If a fan is installed in the machine room, then heat emission is improved, but operation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat emissionVSAvoidoperation time

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The fan component is completely removed from the system. Instead of using active mechanical ventilation, the design relies on passive heat radiation through the fins and natural convection currents to dissipate heat from the compressor, thereby eliminating the fan and its associated manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat radiation fins provide continuous passive heat dissipation as long as there is a temperature difference between the compressor and the surrounding air. This eliminates the need for periodic or continuous fan operation, reducing energy consumption and operational time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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

The design allows for rapid heat dissipation, reducing internal temperatures, enhancing reliability and efficiency, minimizing storage space requirements, and lowering manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for a fan, while also reducing noise.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of heat radiation fins that are located at an outer circumferential surface of the shell and that are configured to emit heat generated inside the shell to an outside of the shell

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 2

heat may not be quickly discharged to an outside of the compressor due to a relatively reduced heat emission area

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS11143438B2Compressor and refrigerator having the same

Publication Date: 2021.10.12 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A compressor includes a shell that defines an enclosed space inside the shell, an electric motor unit located in the enclosed space of the shell and configured to generate a driving force, and a compression unit located in the enclosed space of the shell and configured to compress refrigerant. The compression unit includes a cylinder and a piston that is configured to reciprocate in the cylinder based on the driving force transmitted from the electric motor unit. The shell includes a plurality of heat radiation fins that are located at an outer circumferential surface of the shell and that are configured to emit heat generated inside the shell to an outside of the shell.