Refrigerator Condenser Support Tray for Condensate Evaporation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigeration devices require a specific evaporation tray for each compressor type, leading to high complexity in production, especially for household refrigeration appliances, and have limited evaporation capacity.
Innovation Solution
The evaporation tray is integrated into the compressor's support element, which has a trough-shaped design with a flexible plastic insert for watertightness and a thermally coupled refrigerant line loop for increased evaporation surface and capacity, allowing for adaptable design and reduced part complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a specific evaporation tray is designed for each compressor type with direct connection, then favorable heat conduction is achieved, but device complexity increases due to high parts complexity in large-scale production
Solution Approach 1:
The support element is designed to serve multiple functions: it supports the compressor mechanically and simultaneously functions as an evaporation tray for condensation water. This universal design eliminates the need for separate evaporation trays for different compressor types, reducing parts complexity while maintaining heat conduction efficiency through the support element's direct thermal connection to the compressor.
2Device complexity
If the evaporation tray is integrated into the support element, then device complexity is reduced and adaptability increases, but watertightness becomes problematic due to openings in the support element
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible membrane made of plastic or rubber is introduced to line the trough-shaped support element. This flexible shell conforms to the support element's geometry and provides reliable watertight sealing, preventing condensation water from leaking through the openings in the support element while maintaining the integrated design benefits.
3Productivity
If the support element has large surface area for evaporation, then evaporation capacity increases, but watertight absorption of condensation water becomes difficult due to assembly openings
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane lines the entire trough-shaped support element, creating a watertight barrier that prevents condensation water from leaking through assembly openings while preserving the large surface area of the support element for evaporation. The membrane allows the support element to maintain its structural geometry while achieving both high evaporation capacity and reliable watertightness.
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 provides a significantly larger evaporation surface and increased evaporation capacity, allowing for optimal evaporation performance across different refrigeration device variants while minimizing part complexity and ensuring watertightness and corrosion protection.
Implementation Method 1
the support element of the compressor can be thermally coupled to a refrigerant line of the refrigerant circuit
Implementation Method 2
the condensation water collected can be evaporated into the environment using the waste heat from the compressor and/or the condenser of the refrigerant circuit
Implementation Method 3
evaporated into the environment using the waste heat from the compressor and/or the condenser
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a refrigerator, in particular domestic refrigerator, having a basic structure, which defines a refrigerating chamber, having a carrying element (7), on which is fastened a condenser (5) which is connected into the refrigerant circuit, and having at least one evaporation pan (23, 24), for collecting condensation water which forms in the refrigerating chamber. According to the invention, the carrying element (7) of the condenser (5), in order to be formed as evaporation pan, has a tray base (23) and laterally elevated side walls (24) around the periphery.