Freezer Ventilator Nozzle Plate to Prevent Ice Block Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing passive pressure relief ports in temperature-controlled enclosures, such as walk-in freezers, fail to prevent ice block formation due to moisture condensation, which can lead to air blockage and safety hazards, especially when no significant pressure differential is required or desired, and can cause the enclosure to collapse or rupture due to pressure buildup.
Innovation Solution
A passive freezer ventilator with a gang of air control valves and nozzles that accelerate airflow to prevent ice formation by expelling moisture away from enclosure walls, using a design comprising an intake hood, pressure relief valve block, and nozzle plate with tapered nozzles that increase airstream velocity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If passive pressure relief ports are used to vent large amounts of air, then pressure equalization is achieved, but moisture condensation and ice block formation occur on cold surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The vent is divided into multiple small nozzles arranged in a gang configuration. This segmentation disperses the large volume of vented air into numerous small streams, preventing concentrated moisture deposition that would form ice blocks on cold surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzles are oriented to direct airflow in specific directions, utilizing spatial distribution to disperse moisture-laden air away from cold surfaces. This dimensional approach prevents moisture condensation by distributing the vented air across a larger spatial volume rather than allowing it to concentrate on cold walls.
2Device complexity
If no pressure differential is maintained in the enclosure, then passive venting is sufficient, but air migration occurs during door opening cycles causing condensation and frosting
Solution Approach 1:
The vent system operates passively without requiring external power or control systems. The gang of nozzles automatically responds to pressure differentials created during door opening cycles, providing self-regulating ventilation that prevents condensation and frosting without adding electrical complexity.
3Stress or pressure
If temperature rise occurs in the enclosure during cooling cycles, then pressure buildup occurs, but inadequate venting capacity can cause chamber rupture
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure relief function is distributed across multiple nozzles in the gang configuration. This segmentation provides redundant venting pathways, ensuring that if one nozzle becomes partially blocked, other nozzles can maintain adequate venting capacity to prevent chamber rupture.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent system is designed with excessive venting capacity relative to minimum requirements. The gang of nozzles provides more total venting area than strictly necessary, ensuring that even during maximum temperature rise and pressure buildup, the system can handle the load without risking chamber integrity.
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 effectively prevents ice block formation on enclosure walls and ceilings by accelerating airflow, allowing moisture to freeze into small ice crystals that can be carried away, thus maintaining airflow and preventing enclosure collapse or rupture.
Implementation Method 1
Each air nozzle is associated with one air control valve. With this construction, the air nozzles accelerate an airstream there through to restricts the formation of ice adjacent the nozzle.
Implementation Method 2
allowing moisture to freeze into small ice crystals that can be carried away
Data Source
AI summary
A ventilator (10) is disclosed which includes a ventilator intake hood (11), a pressure relief valve block (12), and a nozzle plate (13). The pressure relief valve block includes a field of pressure relief valves (19) positioned within air channels (20). The nozzle plate includes a field of fourteen nozzles (22) which are aligned with an air channel of the block. Each nozzle defines an interior passage (23) which tapers inwardly as it extends outwardly along the direction of airflow. The nozzles accelerate the airflow so that moisture within the air entering the cooled enclosure does not immediately freeze upon the adjoining enclosure to form an ice block.