Evaporator End Fins and Brackets to Prevent Air Stream Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigeration appliances face inefficiencies in heat exchange and frost formation within the evaporator assembly, leading to reduced cooling performance and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
The evaporator assembly features a pipe with bent end portions forming rows, mounted by end brackets with apertures and fins to restrict air flow, enhancing heat exchange and preventing frost formation, while a fan assembly circulates air for efficient cooling across the refrigerant surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the evaporator assembly allows free air flow through end brackets for mounting purposes, then ease of manufacture and assembly is improved, but heat exchange efficiency deteriorates due to air stream mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The end brackets are segmented with multiple apertures to receive bent end portions of pipes, allowing modular assembly while maintaining structural integrity for air stream separation
Solution Approach 2:
End fins are introduced as intermediary elements between the air streams and end brackets, blocking the mixing of air streams while allowing the brackets to perform their mounting function through apertures
2Ease of operation
If air streams are allowed to mix freely at the evaporator assembly, then ease of operation is improved, but cooling performance deteriorates due to reduced heat exchange effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
End fins serve as intermediary barriers that prevent mixing of air streams while allowing the system to operate with simple air flow management, maintaining both ease of operation and cooling performance
3Ease of manufacture
If end brackets are designed with apertures for pipe reception, then ease of manufacture is improved, but frost formation risk increases due to potential air leakage
Solution Approach 1:
End fins act as intermediary blockers that seal the apertures of end brackets, preventing air leakage and frost formation while allowing the brackets to maintain their simple apertured design for ease of manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The end fins are positioned to preliminarily block the apertures before air leakage can occur, preventing frost formation at the bracket-aperture interface
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 improves heat transfer efficiency, reduces frost accumulation, and maintains optimal temperature conditions in both the freezer and fresh food compartments, enhancing overall appliance performance.
Implementation Method 1
The pipe is configured to transport a refrigerant that exchanges heat with an air stream from the compartment that is entering the evaporator assembly
Implementation Method 2
The fan assembly is configured to move the air stream exiting from the evaporator assembly to other portions of the refrigeration appliance
Implementation Method 3
an evaporator for the freezer compartment that cools the air in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator to temperatures below zero degrees Celsius
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator is provided with an evaporator assembly located in a compartment. The evaporator assembly includes a pipe, a fan assembly, a plurality of fins, a first and second bracket. The pipe is configured to transport a refrigerant that exchanges heat with an air stream from the compartment. The plurality of fins is inserted on the pipe. The brackets each include apertures to receive bent end portions of the pipe. The brackets are configured to hold the pipe and the fins in a specific position, to mount the evaporator assembly within the compartment, and restrict the air stream exiting the evaporator assembly from mixing with the air stream entering the evaporator assembly. The fins include end fins that are placed in direct contact with the first end bracket and are configured to further restrict the air stream from flowing through the plurality of apertures of the brackets.