Evaporator and refrigerator comprising same
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Direct cooling type refrigerators with roll-bond type evaporators face issues with frost accumulation, leading to reduced heat exchange efficiency and inconvenience due to long defrosting times, as well as space constraints and inefficient defrosting mechanisms in existing designs.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a heating flow channel within the evaporator case, where a working fluid or hot wire heater is used to efficiently defrost the evaporator, reducing defrosting time and improving heat exchange efficiency, while also allowing for smooth drainage of defrost water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If natural defrosting is used after forcing the compressor off, then frost can be removed, but user convenience deteriorates and defrosting time becomes too long
Solution Approach 1:
The heating tube is pre-installed within the evaporator case, and defrosting agent is pre-filled in the heating flow channel. When defrosting is needed, the system activates the pump to circulate the heated defrosting agent through the heating tube, rapidly melting frost without requiring prolonged natural defrosting periods.
Solution Approach 2:
A defrosting agent is introduced as an intermediary substance to facilitate the defrosting process. The agent is heated by the heating tube and circulated through the heating flow channel to transfer heat efficiently to the frost, accelerating the melting process compared to passive natural defrosting.
2Reliability
If a tube is installed to surround the evaporator for heat transmission, then defrosting can be achieved, but contact resistance becomes too large to exhibit effective defrosting
Solution Approach 1:
The heating tube is nested within the evaporator case structure, with the heating flow channel also positioned inside the case. This nested arrangement ensures intimate thermal contact between the heating elements and the evaporator surfaces, minimizing contact resistance and maximizing heat transfer efficiency to the frost.
3Reliability
If a water storage tank and heater are provided separately from the evaporator, then defrosting function is achieved, but total volume increases making it difficult to secure freezing chamber capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The heating tube, heating flow channel, and evaporator case are merged into a single integrated assembly. The heating tube and flow channel are positioned within the evaporator case rather than being separate components, significantly reducing the total volume occupied by the defrosting system and preserving freezing chamber capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The evaporator case serves multiple functions: it acts as the cooling structure for the refrigerant, provides structural support, and houses the heating tube and heating flow channel for defrosting operations. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate defrosting components, reducing overall system volume.
4Productivity
If cooling tubes protrude to the inside of the evaporator case, then cooling flow channels are formed, but defrost water is held between the tubes and not drained, causing freezing and adhesion to food
Solution Approach 1:
The heating tube is extracted from the conventional position where it would be surrounded by protruding cooling tubes. Instead, it is positioned within the evaporator case structure itself, eliminating the crevices between tubes where defrost water would accumulate and freeze, thereby preventing adhesion to stored food.
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 solution reduces defrosting time, maintains food freshness, increases cooling efficiency, and maximizes freezer compartment capacity by utilizing embedded heating elements for effective defrosting and preventing frost buildup.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator cooling ambient air according to a cooling operation of absorbing ambient latent heat as the refrigerant provided from the condenser is evaporated
Implementation Method 2
a working fluid contained in a water storage tank is heated by a heater and moves along the pipe, thereby melting frost deposited in the evaporator to remove it
Implementation Method 3
a hot wire heater is embedded in a roll-bond type evaporator case applied to a direct cooling type refrigerator
Data Source
AI summary
An evaporator comprises: an evaporator case having first and second case sheets coupled to each other and bent such that both sides of the evaporator case are open, thereby forming a box shape, a food storing space being formed inside the evaporator case; a cooling tube provided as an empty space between the first and second case sheets, thereby forming a cooling channel through which a refrigerant flows; and a heating tube formed as an empty space between the first and second case sheets so as not to overlap with the cooling tube, thereby forming a heating channel for defrosting, wherein the cooling tube and the heating tube are shaped to protrude to the outside of the evaporator case, and the evaporator case has an inner surface formed to be flat.