Refrigerator Evaporator Inlet Guide for Uniform Cold Air Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators face inefficiencies in distributing cold air uniformly to the evaporator, leading to uneven cooling and potential frosting issues due to non-uniform air flow and moisture retention.
Innovation Solution
A guide member with inclined blades and a concave air guide is positioned at the inlet of the cold air generating compartment, directing cold air perpendicular to the evaporator surface, ensuring uniform distribution and reducing moisture through a heat transfer member, thereby enhancing cooling efficiency and reducing frost formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If cold air is introduced directly into the cold air generating compartment without guidance, then the air flow path is simple, but the cold air distribution becomes non-uniform causing uneven cooling and frosting issues
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member divides the cold air inlet into multiple segments using inclined blades, directing air flow to different regions of the evaporator separately. This segmentation ensures uniform cold air distribution across both upper and lower evaporator portions, resolving the non-uniform cooling issue while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
A guide member is introduced as an intermediary component between the cold air inlet and the evaporator. This guide member includes inclined blades that actively direct and distribute cold air flow, serving as a mediator to achieve uniform cooling without requiring complex multi-component systems.
2Productivity
If the evaporator surface is exposed to non-uniform air flow, then the cooling cycle operates continuously, but moisture retention and frost formation increase reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member performs preliminary action by directing and uniformizing cold air flow before it reaches the evaporator surface. This pre-distribution of air flow prevents moisture accumulation and frost formation in advance, allowing the cooling cycle to operate more efficiently without continuous defrost interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member converts the potentially harmful effect of concentrated cold air flow into a beneficial uniform distribution pattern. By redirecting the air flow through inclined blades, the system transforms what would be a harmful non-uniform exposure into a beneficial evenly distributed cooling effect, reducing frost while maintaining productivity.
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
The solution ensures uniform cold air distribution to both upper and lower evaporator portions, increasing cooling efficiency and extending defrost intervals by maintaining dry air flow, which reduces frost formation and improves overall refrigeration performance.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator positioned in the cold air generating compartment
Implementation Method 2
a cold air fan positioned in the cold air generating compartment and configured to promote movement of air within the cold air generating compartment
Implementation Method 3
a guide member positioned at an inlet of the cold air generating compartment and configured to guide air passing through the inlet of the cold air generating compartment toward the evaporator
Implementation Method 4
a heat transfer member that connects the guide member and the evaporator and is configured to cool a surface of the guide member, thereby reducing moisture from the air passing through the guide member
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator, in which a guide member is arranged at an inlet of a cold air generating compartment that houses an evaporator. The guide member uniformly distributes cold air introduced into the cold air generating compartment to upper and lower portions of the evaporator.