Dual-Evaporator Refrigerator Airflow Control to Prevent Odor Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators lack the ability to independently control the amount of cool air supplied to the refrigerating chamber, leading to inefficient cooling, odor mixing between chambers, increased power consumption, and limited flexibility in cooling chamber design.
Innovation Solution
The refrigerator is designed with evaporators and fans in both the freezing and refrigerating chambers, along with a plurality of cool-air ducts, allowing independent control of cool air supply to each chamber, utilizing outer rotor-type motors and turbofans to enhance efficiency and flexibility in cool air distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single evaporator and fan are provided in the freezing chamber to supply cool air to both freezing and refrigerating chambers, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to independently control cool air supply to each chamber is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cooling system into separate segments for the freezing chamber and refrigerating chamber. Each chamber is equipped with its own evaporator and fan, allowing independent control of cool air generation and distribution. This segmentation enables each chamber to be optimized and controlled separately, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and independent control capability.
2Device complexity
If cool air from the freezing chamber is supplied to the refrigerating chamber through a shared duct system, then the device complexity is reduced, but odor mixing between chambers occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements separate duct systems for the freezing chamber and refrigerating chamber, with dedicated cool-air outlets in each chamber. This segmentation of the air distribution system prevents odor mixing by ensuring that air flows remain separate throughout the duct network, while maintaining relatively simple duct configurations in each chamber.
3Device complexity
If the same evaporator serves both freezing and refrigerating chambers, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cooling speed and temperature control precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides separate evaporators for the freezing chamber and refrigerating chamber, allowing each evaporator to be optimized for its specific temperature requirements. The freezing chamber evaporator operates at lower temperatures while the refrigerating chamber evaporator maintains higher temperatures, enabling faster and more precise cooling control in each chamber independently.
4Device complexity
If a single fan supplies cool air to both chambers, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to vary cooling speeds independently deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent equips each chamber with its own fan, enabling independent control of air circulation speeds. The freezing chamber fan can operate at higher speeds for rapid freezing, while the refrigerating chamber fan can operate at lower speeds for gentle cooling, providing versatile and adaptable cooling control for different storage requirements.
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 design enables independent control of cool air supply, reducing power consumption, minimizing odor mixing, and allowing for varied cooling speeds and chamber configurations, resulting in improved cooling efficiency and flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
the evaporator 23 exchanges heat with the cool air having the increased temperature after cooling the food
Implementation Method 2
The fan 22 sends the cool air passed through the evaporator 23 to the freezing and refrigerating chambers 20 and 30
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator is provided including a freezing chamber (200) having a first evaporator (230) and a first fan (220) provided inside, and a refrigerating chamber (300) having a second evaporator (330) and a second fan (320) provided inside. Further, the first and second fans may be configured to direct cool air generated by the first and second evaporators to the freezing and refrigerating chambers, respectively. Additionally, plurality of cool-air ducts (270;370) may be provided in at least one of the freezing and refrigerating chambers, the cool air ducts may be configured to provide cool air to the freezing and refrigerating chambers via operation of the first and second fans, respectively.