Refrigerator Door Ice Compartment Cooling With Exposed Heat Exchanger
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 'bottom freezer' type refrigerators, providing adequate cooling to the icemaker sub-compartment on the door for the top-mounted fresh food compartment is inefficient, often requiring large ducts or liquid coolants, which increase energy consumption and manufacturing costs, and complicate maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A serpentine portion of the refrigeration system's fluid connection loop is embedded in the sidewall of the fresh food compartment, with a heat-exchanging plate and gasket arrangement that exposes the plate to the sub-compartment when the door is closed, allowing direct cooling by the refrigerant and enhancing heat exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a large duct loop is used to circulate cold air to the sub-compartment, then adequate cooling is provided to the icemaker, but the duct reduces insulation thickness and increases energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the cooling function from the main freezer compartment air circulation system by providing a dedicated heat exchanger in the sub-compartment that directly receives refrigerant from the refrigeration system, eliminating the need for large duct loops that would otherwise be required to circulate cold air
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a heat exchanger as an intermediary component between the refrigeration system and the sub-compartment, allowing direct thermal energy transfer via refrigerant without requiring large volumes of cold air circulation through ducts
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple heaters are installed to prevent condensation on the main body, then condensation is prevented, but manufacturing cost and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the condensation prevention function from the main body insulation system by providing thermal insulation specifically for the sub-compartment walls, eliminating the need for multiple heaters on the main body
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies thermal insulation material specifically to the sub-compartment walls where condensation is most likely to occur, rather than requiring heaters on the entire main body, achieving localized protection with reduced cost
3Temperature
If a liquid coolant circulation loop is used to cool the icemaker, then good cooling results are achieved, but maintenance and repair become complicated when the door is removed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the cooling system by providing a heat exchanger that is thermally coupled to the refrigeration system but physically located in the sub-compartment, allowing the door to be removed without affecting the liquid coolant circulation loop in the main body
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger acts as an intermediary that receives refrigerant through a fluid connection loop in the main body and provides cooling to the sub-compartment, separating the liquid coolant system from the door assembly
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 reduces energy consumption and manufacturing costs while simplifying maintenance by providing effective cooling for the icemaker and preventing condensation, maintaining efficient operation and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a refrigeration system containing therein a working medium and an evaporator for cooling the compartment
Implementation Method 2
The heat exchanger is coolable by the working medium. The heat exchanger and the second wall are positioned so that when the door is in a closed position, the heat exchanger is exposed to an interior of the sub-compartment through the opening
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a main body defining a compartment, the compartment having an access opening, a first wall and a heat exchanger supported by the first wall; a refrigeration system containing therein a working medium and including an evaporator which is disposed outside of the compartment for cooling the compartment; a door supported by the main body for selectively closing at least part of the access opening of the compartment; and a sub-compartment on the door and including a second wall with an opening. The heat exchanger is coolable by the working medium. The heat exchanger and the second wall are positioned so that when the door is in a closed position, the heat exchanger is exposed to an interior of the sub-compartment through the opening.