Refrigerator Drawer Assembly With Modified Atmosphere Fresh-Keeping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drawer assemblies in refrigerators with vacuum structures are cumbersome, require high energy consumption, and are inconvenient to use due to the need for frequent vacuuming, which can lead to deformation and poor timeliness in food storage.
Innovation Solution
A drawer assembly that uses a modified atmosphere film assembly to create a gas atmosphere rich in nitrogen and poor in oxygen, facilitated by a centrifugal fan and communication holes, to enhance airflow and reduce oxygen levels, thereby improving food freshness without the need for frequent vacuuming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vacuum drawer structure is used to maintain vacuum state for food storage, then food freshness is improved, but energy consumption increases and the drawer structure requires high strength leading to high cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the vacuum environment with an inert atmosphere environment (nitrogen-rich, oxygen-poor) in the drawer space. This is achieved by controlling the gas composition through the modified atmosphere film assembly that allows selective transmission of gases, creating an atmosphere that inhibits food deterioration without requiring continuous vacuum maintenance, thereby reducing energy consumption while preserving food freshness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the gas atmosphere from vacuum (zero pressure) to modified atmosphere (controlled composition with high nitrogen and low oxygen). This parameter change allows the system to maintain food freshness through chemical atmosphere control rather than mechanical vacuum maintenance, reducing the strength requirements and energy consumption of the drawer structure.
2Reliability
If a vacuum drawer structure is used to maintain vacuum state, then food freshness is improved, but the drawer structure requires high strength leading to high implementation cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the vacuum environment with an inert atmosphere environment (nitrogen-rich, oxygen-poor) in the drawer space. This is achieved by controlling the gas composition through the modified atmosphere film assembly that allows selective transmission of gases, creating an atmosphere that inhibits food deterioration without requiring continuous vacuum maintenance, thereby reducing energy consumption while preserving food freshness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the gas atmosphere from vacuum (zero pressure) to modified atmosphere (controlled composition with high nitrogen and low oxygen). This parameter change allows the system to maintain food freshness through chemical atmosphere control rather than mechanical vacuum maintenance, reducing the strength requirements and energy consumption of the drawer structure.
3Reliability
If frequent vacuuming is performed to maintain vacuum state, then food freshness is improved, but the operation becomes inconvenient and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service modified atmosphere system where the modified atmosphere film assembly automatically regulates gas composition in the drawer space. The film selectively transmits gases to maintain nitrogen-rich, oxygen-poor conditions without requiring user intervention for vacuuming or atmosphere adjustment, making the system maintain food freshness autonomously while being convenient for users to open and close the drawer.
4Reliability
If a rigid drawer structure is used to maintain vacuum state, then vacuum sealing is improved, but the drawer deforms under vacuum and takes long time to ventilate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the vacuum environment with an inert atmosphere environment (nitrogen-rich, oxygen-poor) in the drawer space. This is achieved by controlling the gas composition through the modified atmosphere film assembly that allows selective transmission of gases, creating an atmosphere that inhibits food deterioration without requiring continuous vacuum maintenance, thereby reducing energy consumption while preserving food freshness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamic modified atmosphere system where the film assembly can adaptively control gas transmission based on the drawer's operational state. When the drawer is closed, the film maintains the nitrogen-rich atmosphere; when opened, the atmosphere quickly equilibrates with the external environment, enabling rapid ventilation without deformation issues associated with rigid vacuum structures.
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 solution effectively maintains food freshness by reducing aerobic respiration, allowing for even cold distribution, and reducing the structural and cost requirements of the drawer assembly, making it more practical and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
oxygen in the air of the accommodating cavity is transmitted into the oxygen-rich gas collecting chamber through the modified atmosphere film
Implementation Method 2
A drawer assembly that uses a modified atmosphere film assembly to create a gas atmosphere rich in nitrogen and poor in oxygen, facilitated by a centrifugal fan and communication holes, to enhance airflow and reduce oxygen levels
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a drawer assembly and a refrigerating and freezing device with the drawer assembly. The drawer assembly comprises a cartridge defined a drawing space and a modified atmosphere film assembly, an accommodating cavity is defined in a top wall of the cartridge, the accommodating cavity is communicated with the drawer space; the modified atmosphere film assembly is mounted in the accommodating cavity, and the modified atmosphere film assembly is provided with a modified atmosphere film and an oxygen-enriched gas collecting cavity, so that when the pressure of the oxygen-enriched gas collecting cavity is less than the pressure of the accommodating cavity, oxygen in air of the accommodating cavity penetrates the modified atmosphere film to the oxygen-enriched gas collecting cavity, so as to obtain a gas atmosphere with rich nitrogen and lean oxygen, facilitating for fresh keeping of foods.