refrigerator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigerators lack accurate detection of refrigerant temperature within the refrigerant tube, which affects the efficiency and performance of the refrigeration cycle.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerator design that includes a heat exchanger with a refrigerant tube and a temperature sensor, where a fixing device supports the guide tube and temperature sensor in contact, ensuring accurate temperature detection and efficient heat exchange.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a temperature sensor is disposed on the inlet-side or outlet-side of the heat exchanger, then the refrigerant temperature can be detected, but the detection accuracy is insufficient due to lack of direct contact with the refrigerant tube

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefrigerant temperature detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor mounting structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A guide tube is introduced as an intermediary component that bridges the temperature sensor and the refrigerant tube. The guide tube is inserted into the refrigerant tube and maintains direct contact, allowing the temperature sensor to accurately detect refrigerant temperature through the guide tube without requiring direct mounting on the refrigerant tube itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The temperature sensor is extracted from direct contact with the refrigerant tube and positioned separately on the inlet-side or outlet-side of the heat exchanger. The guide tube serves as a延伸 component that transfers the temperature information from the refrigerant tube to the sensor, simplifying the sensor mounting while maintaining detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If the guide tube and temperature sensor are not firmly fixed in contact, then the structure is simpler, but the temperature detection becomes unstable and inaccurate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature detection stabilityVSAvoidfixing device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing device is segmented into two distinct support units: a tube support unit that secures the guide tube and a sensor support unit that secures the temperature sensor. This segmentation allows each unit to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining the contact relationship between the guide tube and sensor through the connecting structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fixing device is designed to pre-establish and maintain firm contact between the guide tube and temperature sensor before operation begins. The tube support unit and sensor support unit are configured to ensure continuous, stable contact, preventing any separation or movement that could compromise temperature detection reliability during heat exchanger operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 enables precise refrigerant temperature detection, improving the refrigeration cycle efficiency and reducing power consumption by utilizing waste heat effectively.

Implementation Method 1

a temperature sensor disposed on an inlet-side or outlet-side of the heat exchanger to detect a temperature of the refrigerant; and a fixing device for fixing a guide tube disposed on an inlet-side or outlet-side of the refrigerant tube and the temperature sensor in a state where the guide tube is in contact with the temperature sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

The heat exchanger includes a refrigerant tube in which a refrigerant flows and a heat exchange fin coupled to the refrigerant tube so that the refrigerant is heat-exchanged with external air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 3

the refrigerant is heat-exchanged (heat dissipation) with external air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 4

a heat exchange fin coupled to the refrigerant tube so that the refrigerant is heat-exchanged with external air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3287724B1refrigerator
Publication Date: 2020.10.14 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3287724B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3287724B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3287724B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a heat exchanger assembly for a refrigerator (10). The heat exchanger (50) assembly includes a heat exchanger provided on one side of a refrigerator body (11), the heat exchanger (50) including a refrigerant tube (51) in which a refrigerant flows and a heat exchange fin (53) in which the refrigerant tube (51) is inserted, a temperature sensor (150) disposed on an inlet-side or outlet-side of the heat exchanger (50) to detect a temperature of the refrigerant, and a fixing device (100) for fixing a guide tube (80) disposed on an inlet-side or outlet-side of the refrigerant tube (51) and the temperature sensor (150) in a state where the guide tube (80) is in contact with the temperature sensor (150).