Refrigerator Evaporator Air Guide for Bypass and Defrost Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
A gap between the cold air generating compartment and the evaporator in refrigerators allows cold air to bypass the evaporator, leading to reduced cooling efficiency, and existing solutions for removing defrost water increase manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A guide member is used to obstruct the gap between the evaporator and the cold air generating compartment, directing cold air flow directly to the evaporator and incorporating a drainage portion to collect defrost water from both the evaporator and cold air fan using a single drain pan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a gap is formed between the cold air generating compartment and the evaporator to allow cold air passage, then air flow is facilitated, but cold air bypasses the evaporator reducing cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
A guide member is introduced as an intermediary component between the cold air generating compartment and the evaporator. This guide member redirects the cold air flow path, ensuring that cold air passes along the evaporator surface for effective heat exchange rather than bypassing it through the gap, thus maintaining cooling efficiency while facilitating air flow.
2Reliability
If separate drain pans are provided for evaporator and cold air fan defrost water, then defrost water removal is effective, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the defrost water collection function for both the evaporator and cold air fan into a single integrated drain pan. The guide member is designed with a drainage portion that directs defrost water from the cold air fan area into the same drain pan that collects evaporator defrost water, eliminating the need for separate drain pans and reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining effective defrost water removal.
3Loss of energy
If a guide member is added to obstruct the gap and direct cold air flow, then cooling efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it obstructs the gap to prevent cold air bypass, directs cold air flow along the evaporator for cooling, and incorporates a drainage portion to channel defrost water to the drain pan. By combining these functions into a single component, the patent improves cooling efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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 enhances cooling efficiency by ensuring cold air flows directly to the evaporator and allows for simultaneous collection of defrost water, reducing manufacturing costs and improving overall performance.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator to evaporate the refrigerant emerging from the expansion valve in a low pressure state, thereby absorbing heat from the interior of the refrigerator
Implementation Method 2
a condenser to condense the refrigerant supplied from the compressor, using ambient air
Implementation Method 3
The introduced air passes along the condenser and compressor, and is then outwardly discharged from the machine compartment through the other through hole. During this procedure, the condenser and compressor are cooled by the ambient air
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
In a refrigerator, cold air discharged from a cold air fan (174) is guided by a guide member (180) such that it flows directly to an evaporator. The guide member (180) reduces flow of air through a gap (g) between an inner surface of a cold air generating compartment and the evaporator. The guide member (180) also includes a drainage portion configured to guide defrost water generated at the cold air fan (174) to a position beneath the evaporator.