Finned Compressor Shell for Passive Heat Dissipation in Refrigerators
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Small compressors in refrigerators face challenges with heat emission due to reduced heat emission areas, leading to increased internal temperatures, reduced reliability, and increased manufacturing costs and noise from the need for additional fans to manage heat.
Innovation Solution
A small compressor with a curved shell design and strategically placed heat radiation fins on the outer surface, made of aluminum for enhanced heat transfer, which minimizes the area occupied and reduces the need for a condensing fan by efficiently emitting heat without increasing the compressor's size or operation time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the compressor size is reduced for small refrigerators, then the refrigerator becomes more compact and suitable for vehicle mounting, but the heat emission area of the compressor is reduced leading to increased internal temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by extending heat radiation fins in multiple directions (radially and axially) from the compressor shell surface. This transforms the two-dimensional shell surface into a three-dimensional heat radiation structure with extended surfaces, significantly increasing the heat emission area without increasing the compressor's footprint volume, thus resolving the contradiction between compact size and heat dissipation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes curved surfaces by forming the compressor shell and heat radiation fins with smooth curved geometries. The curved fin surfaces increase the effective heat radiation area compared to flat surfaces of the same footprint, and the curved design facilitates better heat distribution and radiation efficiency, allowing enhanced heat emission from a compact volume.
2Temperature
If a fan is installed in the machine room to emit heat from the compressor, then heat emission is improved, but the storage space of the refrigerator is reduced and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by designing the heat radiation fins to passively dissipate heat from the compressor shell into the surrounding air through natural convection and radiation. The fins are strategically positioned and dimensioned to create effective heat exchange surfaces that operate without requiring additional active cooling components like fans, allowing the compressor to self-regulate its temperature through its own structural features.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the heat emission function from the compressor shell and transfers it to dedicated heat radiation fins. By separating the heat radiation function into distinct fin structures attached to the shell, the design achieves enhanced heat dissipation without requiring a fan in the machine room, thus preserving storage space while improving thermal management.
3Temperature
If a fan is installed to emit heat from the compressor, then heat emission is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases due to increased number of parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heat radiation function with the compressor shell structure by integrating heat radiation fins directly onto the shell. This combination eliminates the need for separate fan components and their associated mounting structures, control systems, and maintenance requirements, reducing the total number of parts while achieving effective heat emission through the integrated fin structure.
4Temperature
If a fan is installed to emit heat from the compressor, then heat emission is improved, but noise increases and efficiency decreases due to increased operation time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by designing the heat radiation fins to passively dissipate heat from the compressor shell into the surrounding air through natural convection and radiation. The fins are strategically positioned and dimensioned to create effective heat exchange surfaces that operate without requiring additional active cooling components like fans, allowing the compressor to self-regulate its temperature through its own structural features.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical fan system with a passive thermal radiation system. Instead of using a mechanically driven fan to force air circulation for heat emission, the design relies on thermally driven natural convection and radiative heat transfer from the extended fin surfaces, eliminating mechanical noise and improving overall system efficiency.
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 allows for rapid heat emission, reducing internal temperatures, enhancing reliability, and minimizing manufacturing costs and noise by eliminating or reducing the need for a condensing fan, while maintaining a compact size and efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
a shell (110) formed of an aluminum material
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of heat radiation fins (1171, 1172) formed on an outer circumferential surface of the shell
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A small compressor and a refrigerator having the same according to the present disclosure may include a shell having an enclosed inner space; an electric motor unit provided in the inner space of the shell to generate a driving force; and a compression unit provided in the inner space of the shell to compress refrigerant while reciprocating a piston in a cylinder by a driving force transmitted from the electric motor unit, wherein a plurality of heat radiation fins are formed on an outer circumferential surface of the shell to emit heat generated inside the shell to an outside of the shell. As a result, heat generated inside the small compressor may be quickly emitted.