Refrigeration appliance comprising an evaporation tray and a heating device for promoting evaporation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The inefficiency in energy consumption due to frequent operation of the heating device in refrigeration appliances to manage condensation water evaporation in the evaporation tray, which is exacerbated by the fluctuating temperature checks and the reliance on electrical heating, leading to lower evaporation rates and increased energy use.
Innovation Solution
A control circuit that uses a temperature sensor to determine if the heating device should operate based on temperature changes during a measurement phase, allowing for continuous heating above the highest measured temperature only if the change is within a specific limit, thereby minimizing energy waste and optimizing evaporation rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the heating device is operated frequently to manage condensation water evaporation, then the evaporation tray can prevent overflow, but the energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit continuously monitors temperature changes in the evaporation tray and uses this feedback to intelligently control the heating device operation. By detecting the rate of temperature change, the system determines when heating is actually needed, avoiding unnecessary heating cycles and reducing energy consumption while still preventing overflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the heating device based on real-time temperature monitoring. Instead of continuous operation, the heating device operates in controlled cycles where the duration and intensity are adjusted according to the detected temperature change rate, optimizing energy efficiency while maintaining reliable overflow prevention.
2Measurement precision
If the temperature is fluctuated greatly during evaporation mode to check water level, then the heating device can determine water presence, but the average evaporation rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial heating action by using small, controlled temperature increases (just enough to detect water presence) rather than large temperature fluctuations. This partial action is sufficient for measurement purposes while minimizing the negative impact on average evaporation rate, as the temperature doesn't drop significantly between heating cycles.
3Speed
If a more powerful heating device is used to achieve maximum temperature quickly, then the water level checking is faster, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses partial heating action with a moderately powered heating device, applying heat only for the minimum duration needed to detect water presence. This approach achieves sufficient temperature rise speed for timely detection without requiring excessive power, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining adequate checking speed.
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 approach reduces the frequency of heating device operation, conserves energy, and maintains a high evaporation rate by allowing a higher water level in the tray before heating is necessary, utilizing waste heat efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporation tray for evaporating condensation water drained from a storage chamber of the appliance
Implementation Method 2
a heating device that can be operated to increase the evaporation of the condensation water in the evaporation tray
Implementation Method 3
a temperature sensor arranged on the evaporation tray, a control unit connected to the temperature sensor
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A refrigeration appliance, especially a domestic refrigeration appliance, comprises at least one storage chamber (3), an evaporation tray (9) for evaporating condensed water carried off from the storage chamber (3), a temperature sensor (15) arranged on the evaporation tray (9), a control unit (13) connected to the temperature sensor (15) and a heating device (10) which can be operated by the control unit (13) to increase the evaporation rate in the evaporation tray (9). The control circuit (13) is designed to decide (S6; S6'), based on a change (T1-T0) in the temperatures (T0, T1) detected by the temperature sensor (15) during a measurement operating mode ([t0, t1], [t2, t3], [t4, t5]; S1-S5, S1-S5') of the heating device (10), whether operation of the heating device (10) is carried on or discontinued. An evaporation mode ([t5, t6]; S9) of the heating device (10) in which the evaporation tray (9) is heated up beyond the highest temperature (T1) measured during the measurement operating mode is only activated if the change (T1-T0) is less than a first threshold value (dTmin).