Cooling and heating cabinet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling and heating cabinets for vehicles take a long time to reach target temperatures and experience temperature non-uniformity due to the use of thermoelectric elements, with cold air falling and warm air rising inside the refrigerating chamber.
Innovation Solution
A cooling and heating cabinet design featuring a heat insulation cavity, a thermoelectric element module, a separation panel with through holes, an agitating part with a magnet and stirring fan, and a magnetic field generating part to rotate the agitating part, ensuring even air circulation and temperature distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If only a thermoelectric element is used for cooling, then the cabinet can maintain a low temperature, but the time taken to reach the target temperature is long
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into two independent components: a thermoelectric element for primary cooling and a fan for auxiliary air circulation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, with the fan accelerating air movement to reduce the time required to reach target temperature while the thermoelectric element maintains the low temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the thermoelectric element and the fan into a hybrid cooling system. The thermoelectric element provides the cooling effect by creating a temperature difference, while the fan enhances the cooling speed by forcing air circulation. This combination resolves the contradiction by achieving both low temperature maintenance and reduced time to reach target temperature.
2Temperature
If only a thermoelectric element is used, then the structure remains simple, but the temperature distribution inside the refrigerating chamber is non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static thermoelectric element to a dynamic cooling system with a rotating fan. The fan creates continuous air circulation that dynamically redistributes cold air throughout the chamber, ensuring uniform temperature distribution. This dynamic approach justifies the increased structural complexity by achieving the desired temperature uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The fan acts as an intermediary between the thermoelectric element and the air in the chamber. It takes the cold air generated by the thermoelectric element and actively distributes it throughout the storage space, mediating the temperature distribution to achieve uniformity across the entire chamber volume.
3Temperature
If a fan is added to improve air circulation, then temperature distribution improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fan is designed to serve multiple functions: it circulates air to improve temperature distribution, accelerates cooling by forcing air over the thermoelectric element, and can be controlled to operate at different speeds for different cooling requirements. This multi-functionality justifies the added component by providing multiple benefits from a single addition.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for parameter changes in fan speed and operation mode to optimize performance. By adjusting the fan's rotational speed and on/off timing, the system can adapt to different cooling demands, achieving uniform temperature distribution while managing the complexity through controllable parameters rather than fixed rigid design.
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 maintains a constant temperature within the storage space by insulating it from the outside and using air circulation to evenly distribute heat, reducing the time to reach target temperatures and ensuring uniform temperature distribution.
Implementation Method 1
The thermoelectric element is an electronically cooled substrate utilizing the Peltier effect. The Peltier effect refers to a phenomenon in which an electrical current passing through a junction between two types of metal absorbs heat at one terminal and generates heat at the other terminal depending on a direction of the current.
Implementation Method 2
a magnetic field generating part disposed outside the outer case and generating a magnetic field to cause the magnet to be rotated
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling and heating cabinet according to an embodiment of the present invention may comprise: an inner case having a storage space provided therein; an outer case which is disposed surrounding the inner case and forms an insulation cavity between the outer case and the inner case; a thermoelectric element module disposed in the insulation cavity; a separation panel disposed inside the inner case and having a plurality of through-holes; an agitating part disposed between the separation panel and the bottom surface of the inner case, and having a magnet and an agitating fan that rotates with the magnet; and a magnetic field-generating part disposed outside the outer case, and generating a magnetic field to rotate the magnet.