Evaporator Pipe Jacket Defrosting for Uniform Temperature Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing defrosting methods for evaporators in refrigeration systems often result in uneven temperature distribution and excessive local temperatures, which can impact the efficiency and performance of the cooling process.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a pipe jacket surrounding the refrigerant-carrying pipes to guide a heat transfer medium along the surface during defrosting, ensuring uniform temperature distribution and avoiding local hotspots, while the cooling process is switched off and the fan is disabled to enhance thermal contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electric heating elements are used to defrost the evaporator, then the defrosting process is effective, but excessively high local temperatures occur and temperature distribution becomes non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
A heat transfer medium (such as water or glycol) is introduced as an intermediary between the heat source and the evaporator. This medium circulates through channels formed by the pipe jacket surrounding the refrigerant pipes, distributing heat uniformly across the evaporator surface and preventing localized overheating while maintaining effective defrosting
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a hydraulic system where a heat transfer medium is pumped through the pipe jacket channels during defrosting operation. This fluid-based heat transfer mechanism provides more uniform heat distribution compared to direct electric heating, resolving the contradiction between defrosting effectiveness and temperature uniformity
2Temperature
If the pipe jacket structure is implemented to guide heat transfer medium along refrigerant pipes, then uniform temperature distribution is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe jacket structure serves multiple functions: it acts as a structural support for the evaporator, provides channels for heat transfer medium circulation during defrosting, and enhances thermal contact between the refrigerant pipes and heat transfer medium. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the structural support function with the heat transfer function by integrating the pipe jacket into the evaporator assembly. The jacket both supports the refrigerant pipes and serves as the conduit for heat transfer medium, combining multiple functions into a single integrated structure that minimizes added 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 approach allows for efficient defrosting with uniform temperature distribution, maintaining cooling performance and enabling the evaporator's performance to be easily determined by balancing heat supplied and refrigerant temperature, thus improving the overall efficiency of the refrigeration system.
Implementation Method 1
the refrigerant-carrying pipe of the evaporator is in close thermal contact with the heat transfer medium along its longitudinal dimension during the defrosting process
Implementation Method 2
during cooling operation the heat transfer medium in the defrost circuit is cooled, whereby the fins of the evaporator are brought to the low temperature of the air cooler
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method and a device for defrosting an evaporator of a refrigeration circuit, in particular an evaporator (8) serving as an air cooler in refrigerated furniture or cold rooms, comprising a refrigeration circuit (K) connected to the evaporator (8) and a defrosting circuit (A ), the pipeline of which leads through the evaporator area, wherein in the evaporator (8) a pipe jacket (40, 60) is formed at least partially or in sections around an inner pipe (6, 22), which has a cavity (41, 61) around the inner pipe ( 6, 22) through which, according to one embodiment, the heat transfer medium and, according to another embodiment, the refrigerant is passed.