Refrigerator Door Dispenser Heating for Condensation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerator dispenser casings experience uneven temperature distribution, leading to condensation issues due to irregular shapes and varying distances from the ice transfer passage, resulting in some areas being overheated while others remain too cold to prevent dewing, making existing dew prevention methods inefficient in energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A heat conducting element, such as a metal foil, is used to evenly distribute heat from a heater to the dispenser casing, reducing condensation by covering only areas prone to condensation and avoiding overheating, while a dual-heater system allows independent control to address different condensation characteristics across the dispenser casing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a heater is provided near the dispenser casing to prevent condensation, then the temperature of the dispenser casing can be increased, but some areas may be overheated while other areas remain too cold to prevent dewing
Solution Approach 1:
A heat conducting element (aluminum foil) is introduced as an intermediary between the heater and the dispenser casing. The heater is positioned away from the dispenser casing, and the heat conducting element transfers heat from the heater to the dispenser casing surface, achieving more uniform heat distribution across the dispenser casing surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system is segmented into three components: the heater, the heat conducting element, and the dispenser casing. This segmentation allows the heater to be positioned optimally for energy efficiency while the heat conducting element distributes heat evenly across the dispenser casing surface, preventing both overheating and underheating.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the heater deployment area is reduced to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but the heat coverage area becomes insufficient to prevent condensation on all necessary areas
Solution Approach 1:
The heat conducting element acts as a heat amplifier that distributes thermal energy from a compact heater over a larger area. The aluminum foil conducts heat laterally across the dispenser casing surface, extending the effective heat coverage area without proportionally increasing the heater size or energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat conducting element extends heat distribution in the lateral dimension across the dispenser casing surface. Instead of concentrating heat in one location, the aluminum foil spreads thermal energy across multiple dimensions of the dispenser casing, achieving broader coverage from a smaller heater.
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 ensures even heating of the dispenser casing, preventing condensation with reasonable energy consumption by directly transmitting heat to the dispenser casing, reducing the risk of user harm from overheating and minimizing heat influence on the storage space.
Implementation Method 1
a heat conducting element (40), arranged between the heater (38) and the dispenser casing (10), for transmitting the heat generated by the heater (38) to the dispenser casing (10)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a refrigerator comprising a refrigerator body (2) defining at least one storage space (7); a door (3) connected to the refrigerator body (2) for closing at least a part of the storage space (7), the door (3) comprising a heat insulating layer (6); a dispenser (8) provided in the door (3), the dispenser (8) comprising a dispenser casing (10) which is adjacent to the heat insulating layer (6); and a heater (38, 39) arranged at least adjacent to the inner side of the dispenser casing (10). According to the invention, the refrigerator further comprises a heat conducting element (40, 50) which covers at least a part of the inner surface of the dispenser casing (10) which faces toward the heat insulating layer (6), and the heat conducting element (40, 50) is arranged at least adjacent to the heater (38, 39) for transmitting the heat generated by the heater (38, 39) to the dispenser casing (10).