Dual-Zone Freezer Tray Layout for Fast Freezing With Lower Energy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators and freezers with deep-freezing functions are energy-intensive due to the need for significantly lower temperatures across the entire freezer compartment, which is inefficient for freezing food quickly while maintaining vitamin preservation and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with separate first and second freezer areas, where the second area operates at a lower temperature for quick freezing, utilizing a SuperFrost function and its own cooling means, allowing for concentrated cooling capacity and faster freezing of food, while the first area remains in normal mode, optimizing energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the entire freezer compartment is operated at significantly lower temperature for deep-freezing function, then the freezing speed is improved and vitamin preservation is achieved, but the energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The freezer compartment is divided into a first freezer area for normal freezing operation and a second freezer area for deep-freezing operation. This segmentation allows the deep-freezing function to be applied only to the specific area where it is needed, rather than the entire freezer compartment, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining fast freezing capability when required.
Solution Approach 2:
Different temperature regimes are applied to different spatial zones within the freezer. The second freezer area is equipped with enhanced cooling capacity to achieve significantly lower temperatures (-40°C to -30°C) specifically in that local region, while the first freezer area maintains normal freezing temperatures. This local quality approach enables vitamin-preserving fast freezing in the second area without subjecting the entire freezer to high energy consumption.
2Speed
If the second freezer area has significantly smaller volume, then the cooling speed is improved and energy efficiency is increased, but the storage capacity for frozen goods is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The freezer storage space is segmented into two functional areas: a first freezer area with larger volume for general frozen goods storage, and a second freezer area with smaller volume optimized for fast deep-freezing. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing both a high-capacity storage zone and a high-performance fast-freezing zone, allowing users to store large quantities of frozen goods while still having access to rapid freezing capability for occasional needs.
3Productivity
If the second freezer area is equipped with own cooling means, then the cooling capacity is concentrated and freezing efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into two independent cooling circuits: a first cooling circuit serving the first freezer area and a second cooling circuit serving the second freezer area. This segmentation allows the second cooling circuit to be optimized specifically for deep-freezing operations with enhanced cooling capacity, improving freezing efficiency without requiring complete system redesign. Each cooling circuit can operate independently, providing productivity benefits while managing complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigerator/freezer unit maintains a universal cooling system that can operate in multiple modes: normal freezing mode using the first cooling circuit, deep-freezing mode using the second cooling circuit, and combined operation of both circuits. This multi-functionality allows the system to adapt to different user needs while managing complexity through a unified control architecture that can switch between or combine cooling circuits as required.
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 enables faster and more energy-efficient deep-freezing of food, preserving vitamins by concentrating cooling capacity in the second area, which can be operated at temperatures between -40°C and -30°C, while maintaining energy efficiency and compact user-friendly design.
Implementation Method 1
the maximum available cooling capacity of the refrigerator and/or freezer can be concentrated on the second freezer area
Implementation Method 2
When freezing food, it is advantageous to achieve vitamin-preserving freezing of the food through a quick freezing process
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The device (10) has a freezing area (40) defined by another freezing area (30) and operable at temperature lower than that of the latter freezing area. The freezing areas are formed in a moving tray (20) in a freezing part (12). The former freezing area is operable as high-speed freezing area. The volume of the former freezing area is smaller than the volume of the latter freezing area. The freezing areas are designed as freezing trays. Partial latent heat storages are arranged in walls (44, 46) of the former freezing area.