Refrigerator Door Sealing Assembly With Air Chambers for Heat Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sealing assemblies in multi-door refrigerators suffer from heat loss and condensation issues due to the higher heat conduction coefficient of magnetic elements compared to air and gasket materials, leading to reduced thermal insulation and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A sealing assembly with a magnet chamber, multiple air chambers, and sealing flaps that align to minimize thermal gaps and prevent air leakage, featuring a contact wall, first and second sealing flaps with specific angles to enhance thermal efficiency and prevent sweating, and an inner air chamber with deformable sidewalls for improved sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If magnetic elements are used in the sealing assembly, then sealing force is improved, but thermal insulation deteriorates due to higher heat conduction coefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing assembly is divided into multiple air chambers (first air chamber, second air chamber, third air chamber) that segment the thermal path. These chambers create multiple air gaps between the magnetic element and the door/cabinet surfaces, effectively breaking the continuous thermal conduction path and reducing heat transfer while maintaining sealing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Air is introduced as an intermediary thermal insulator between the magnetic element and the door/cabinet surfaces. The multiple air chambers fill with air which has low thermal conductivity, acting as a thermal barrier that mediates between the high-conduction magnetic element and the surrounding structures, significantly reducing heat transfer.
2Reliability
If heaters are used in the rotating bar, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but thermal losses increase through the magnet
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal path from the heater through the magnetic element is segmented by introducing multiple air chambers. The heat from the heater must pass through multiple air gaps (first, second, and third air chambers) rather than directly through the magnetic element, significantly reducing thermal losses while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
Air chambers serve as thermal intermediary layers between the heater and the magnetic element. The low thermal conductivity of air acts as a thermal barrier, mediating the heat transfer from the heater unit to the interior of the refrigerating compartment, thereby reducing energy loss.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional sealing assemblies are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but condensation occurs on the outer surface
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing assembly incorporates multiple air chambers that segment the thermal structure, creating thermal barriers that prevent the outer surface temperature from dropping below the dew point. This segmentation approach maintains manufacturing simplicity while effectively preventing condensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the thermal parameters of the sealing assembly by introducing air-filled chambers, which alter the temperature distribution across the sealing structure. This parameter change ensures the outer surface remains above the dew point temperature, preventing condensation while maintaining ease of manufacture.
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 proposed sealing assembly significantly reduces thermal losses and prevents sweating on the outer surface, enhancing energy efficiency and humidity control by maintaining a lower temperature difference between inner and outer surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
Since the conduction coefficient of a magnetic element is higher than the air and gasket material (i.e. rubber), the heat conduction is mostly done through the magnetic element. Therefore, heat insulation is adversely affected by the heat coming from the heater unit to the inside of the refrigerating compartment through the magnet.
Implementation Method 2
a first sealing flap (20) adapted to form a closed region (51) for sealing a space thereof; a second sealing flap (21) extending as a free end towards the rotating bar (103)
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing assembly seals an area between a door and a cabinet of a cooling device having a refrigeration compartment with two doors and a rotating bar pivotally mounted to one of the doors. The sealing assembly having a magnet chamber which defines a receiving cavity for accommodating a magnetic element, a first air chamber provided at one side of the sealing assembly, an attachment portion for attaching the sealing assembly to the door of the cooling device, a second air chamber provided between the magnet chamber and the first air chamber; and a first sealing flap adapted to form a closed region for sealing a space thereof. The sealing assembly further contains a second sealing flap extending as a free end towards the rotating bar. Moreover, a cooling device ideally contains such sealing assemblies.